 | Beasts at law, or zoologian jurisprudence |  |
Count second states a like offence,
On March the first—fifteen months since;
To both of which defendant pleads
“Not guilty,” and the clerk proceeds,
The plaintiff's counsel to report,
And read their names before the court.
The Bear was foremost on the scroll,
From frozen regions near the pole,
But with acquirements great at least
As those of any northern beast;
And without tarnish on his name,
Ursus was not unknown to fame.
A Panther, next, espous'd her cause,
No novice in the school of laws;
But who deriv'd his greatest fame,
From ardour in pursuit of game;
For Pardus, fleetest of his race,
Was never known to yield the chase.
With him appeared a noble Steed,
Surpassing all Arabia's breed,
Who once had made a despot feel
An argument by dint of heel;
Who spurn'd oppression's bit and rein,
And emigrated o'er the main;
And here, the advocate of right,
Equus would never yield in fight.
A Martin followed on the list
The cause of virtue to assist:
While, nodding graceful in the rear,
The antlers of a Stag appear,
Who, were he poised in even balance,
Would find his worth surpass his talents;
While some of Cervus boldly say,
His vanity would both outweigh.
On March the first—fifteen months since;
To both of which defendant pleads
“Not guilty,” and the clerk proceeds,
The plaintiff's counsel to report,
And read their names before the court.
The Bear was foremost on the scroll,
From frozen regions near the pole,
But with acquirements great at least
As those of any northern beast;
And without tarnish on his name,
Ursus was not unknown to fame.
A Panther, next, espous'd her cause,
No novice in the school of laws;
12
From ardour in pursuit of game;
For Pardus, fleetest of his race,
Was never known to yield the chase.
With him appeared a noble Steed,
Surpassing all Arabia's breed,
Who once had made a despot feel
An argument by dint of heel;
Who spurn'd oppression's bit and rein,
And emigrated o'er the main;
And here, the advocate of right,
Equus would never yield in fight.
A Martin followed on the list
The cause of virtue to assist:
While, nodding graceful in the rear,
The antlers of a Stag appear,
Who, were he poised in even balance,
Would find his worth surpass his talents;
While some of Cervus boldly say,
His vanity would both outweigh.
| Beasts at law, or zoologian jurisprudence | |