He fung the lofs and death of Sheep
In notes that made the lady weep;
How for his charge the Dog unfit

Took part with foes, and fhepherds bit;
Ev'n from his birth he did him trace,'
And fhew him cur of fhabby race;
The first by wand'ring beggars fed,
His fire advanc'd turn'd spit for bread;
Himself each trust had still abus'd;
To steal what he shou'd guard was us'd
From puppy; known where'er he came
Both vile and bafe, and void of fhame.

The Cat he fung, that none could match
For venom'd spite or cruel fcratch;
That from a witch transform'd she came,
Who kitten'd three of equal fame:

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This first one dead, of tabby fur

The third furvives; much noife of her

Had been; a Cat well known; with ease
On errands dark o'er land and feas
She 'd journies take to cub of Bear,
From these intriguing beasts, who fwear
They'll bring him to defend the wrong
That they have done. Again he fung
How Tabby once in moonlight night
Trotted with letter Fox did write,
In which he fends his best refpects
To the fhe bear, and thus directs:

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"Madam," said he, " your cub safe send, "None shall his worship foon offend;

"It is all I can at prefent do

"To ferve him, as his friends well know."
At this the Beafts grew in fuch rage
That none their fury could affuage;
Nay, Pufs her lady would have scratch'd,
And tore her eyes, but fhe was watch'd;
For fhe 'd fet up her back and mew,
And thrice ev'n in her face fhe flew.
The Dog, like an ungrateful spark,
At her wou'd dare to fnarl and bark,
Her tenants wond'ring ftood to hear
That fhe their infolence wou'd bear,

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And offer'd their affiftance to

Soon make them better manners know:

But fhe, t' avoid all farther rout,

Her window op'ning turn'd Bob out,

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Hoping that then her Beafts wou'd live
In peace, and no disturbance give.

Yet nothing she can do avails;

Their rage against her still prevails,

"Of human race, fome fhall aloud
"Inflame and arm a dreadful crowd,
"Who in vaft numbers fhall advance,

"And to new tunes fhall make them dance:
"When this begins no longer hope,
"For all remains is ax and rope."

But not deterr'd by this, they dar'd,
With fome who of their plunder fhar'd,
T'affront their lady, and confpire

To many with her money hire,
Contemning her, to pay undue
Regards unto this bestial crew;
Tho' these resembled human shapes,
They were indeed no more than Apes,
Who fome in houfe, and fome in wood,

And others in high boxes stood,

'That chatt'ring made fuch noise and stir, How all was due to Fox and Car,

In fongs all day. Now perch'd on tree,

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Finding himself secure and free,
He pertly shakes his little wings,
Sets up his throat; again he fings

"That she had left no other way

"To fave her flocks and end this fray

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"But foon to her affiftance take

"One who could make these monsters shake;

"A well-known huntfman, who has skill

"The fierceft beafts to tame or kill:

"At her command he 'd come, and he

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"Would make her great and set them free; "That fhou'd thefe Beafts fome evil day

Bring Cub into her grounds, fhe may "Depend that not herself they'll spare, "Since to infult her now they dare: "All fhe at best can hope for then "Is to be fafe fhut up in den; "Since by fure figns all these ingrate "Are known to bear her deadly hate."

He ends his fong, and prays to Heav'n That she may have the wisdom giv'a Before it be too late, to take'

Such refolutions as may make

Her fafe, and that these Beasts no more
To ravage in the plains have pow'r.

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TO the most noble Prince Henry Duke of Beaufort, Marquis and Earl of Worcester, Earl of Glamorgan, Baron Herbert, Lord of Chepflow, Ragland, and Gower, and the illuftrious Brotherhood†over whichhis Grace prefides, this Poem is humbly dedicated by their most obedient, moft dutiful, and humble fervant.

THE tea was fipp'd, Ocella gone
To regulate affairs alone,

*This is afcribed to Dr. King upon conjecture only. It was published in 1712, the winter before he died, by his book feller, infcribed to his patron, and is very much in his manner: his name is accordingly affixed to the author's notes. 'The poem is on many accounts worth preferving; and if it is not Dr. King's, it is at least not by an inferiour writer.

+ The Duke was Captain of the band of Gentlemen Penfioners. Though the interefts of virtue and religion are best secured by the severeft reafon and argument, yet I hope a less folemn recommendation of them to the world may not be esteemed a prejudice to either. How oft' has a stubborn folly been fuccefsfully arraigned by a candid and eafy rebuke, which had long maintained itself against a more powerful though a lefs familiar conviction! If we can smile away the follies of an adversary, sport with his vanities, and laugh him into a sense of his errours, why should we forfeit that exquifite pleasure of complacency and good humour which a malicious conflict Volume II.

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