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Pardus.
Do you remember his excuses,
About the sin of such abuses?

Vertagus.
My lord, that question seems to me
A little straggling.

Court.
If it be
To this transaction any clue,
'Twill be admissible, and do.

Capra.
Sometime, perhaps four months, ago,
A case was pending here, you know,
In which a certain wanton Deer,
For such a crime was summon'd here;
And, if my memory's not in fault,
'Twas just before the last assault.
Defendant's words were then, 'tis clear,
In favor of the “stricken deer;”
And intimated, in discourse,
That she was not a whit the worse;
Which was, I thought, a hint too pat,
To misconceive what he'd be at.
He then proceeded, and repeated
A list of tricks himself committed;
Of tracks, that would, I think, or ought to
Cause all the jury's....eyes to water;
And by his tell....bad luck resist him!
(aside)
A half a hundred sluts had kiss'd him;
And, after all the catalogue,
He thought himself a clever dog.

Equus.
His language seem'd then to import
That he was ne'er the worser for't?

Capra.
He said, though he'd been rather rude,
He knew our sovereign was too good,
To punish such a small offence,
As just to gratify the sense.
And then the antient fable quoted,
How once a mouse, for thieving noted,
Was caught by Lion in the fact,
Who graciously forgave the act.

Cross-examined, by Reynard.
Reyn.
You threatened, prior to this confession,
To expose, it seems, the Dog's transgression?
This was posterior, was it?

Capra.
Yes,
'Twas since my threat he told me this,
And made me promise not to tell it.

Reynard.
When he was rude, did you repel it?
Or did you make advances?

Capra.
Never;
But as I thought him kind and clever,
I told him all my little ailings,
My feelings, wishes, thoughts, and failings;
Though had I sooner found his lies out,
I would have claw'd his beastly eyes out.

Reynard.
Did you not, Capra....come reflect....
Did you not kiss him? recollect.

Capra.
Now Mr. Fox! upon my word,
I never such a question heard:
Such impudence was never seen....
I really do'n't know what you mean;
Unless permitting him to kiss,
Is what you're after....is it?

Reynard.
Yes.
You did allow a kiss, then, ha?

Cap.
Why, dogs, you know, will have their way.

Reynard.
Did you attempt to coax him, ever.

Capra.
No! by my whiskers, never, never!

Equus.
Be patient, Capra...these sly oxes,
Are fond of touching up the doxies;
Though rude the questions which he pushes,
Go on, and never mind your blushes.

Reynard.
Nor say....(I ask it not to tease you)
That Capricorn could never please you;
And that you thought himself more clever,
More fit for certain matters—

Capra.
Never!

Reynard.
You never told defendant so,
Or any other person?

Capra.
No.

Reyn.
Did you not say, the males, you fear'd,
Would see how amorously you leer'd,
And read your wishes in your eyes?

Capra.
Never! they're all malicious lies!

Reynard.
Nor say you dared not be alone
With them, for fear—

Capra.
Why this I own,
I said if I were seen to walk
With roguish brutes, 'twould make a talk.

Reynard.
You never mentioned a weak spot
Somewhere about you?

Capra.
Certainly not.

Reynard.
Nor show'd your dugs to any one
Except your partner? This you've done?

Capra.
Except to him, I never did,
Unless when suckling little kid.

Reyn.
And did you not....the question plain is....
Offer to go to bed to Canis,
Or any one but Capricorn?

Capra.
I never did since I was born.

Reynard.
You ask'd the Dog if he believed,
That Canaan's antient flocks conceived,
And mark'd their young by speckled rods?

Capra.
Never! by all the river gods!

Reynard.
You know your leader there, the Ass,
I mean who leads the female class;
Did not you say, whene'er you chose
That you could lead him by the nose;
And call him Sister Nanny too?

Capra.
Why, all the females call him so;
Because he is the only male
We dare admit within the pale.

Reynard.
With him why is your danger less?

Capra.
Because he is....humph! you may guess.
We used to meet within the fold,
A kind of singing club to hold;
But though no instrument he play'd,
Yet when we bleated, then he bray'd.

Reynard.
How many she's with sister Nan,
United in this tuneful plan?

Capra.
Not more than eight or nine, or ten.

Court.
What was this brayer's conduct then?
Was't modest, chaste, correct, no word
Or act indecent?

Capra.
No, my lord.

Reyn.
You're sure you could have told to none
You fear'd with males to be alone,
Lest you should rude advances make?

Capra.
O! name it not for goodness' sake!
For if my weakness were so great,
Yet pride would never let me say't.