Page:Poetical Works of John Oldham.djvu/237

⁠'Troth,' said the wolf, 'I envy your estate;
Would to the gods it were but my good fate,
That I might happily admitted be
A member of your blessed society!
I would with faithfulness discharge my place
In any thing that I might serve his grace.
But, think you, sir, it would be feasible,
And that my application might prevail?’
⁠’Do but endeavour, sir, you need not doubt;
I make no question but to bring 't about;
Only rely on me, and rest secure,
I'll serve you to the utmost of my power,
As I am a dog of honour, sir:—but this
I only take the freedom to advise,
That you'd a little lay your roughness by,
And learn to practise complaisance, like me.'
⁠’For that let me alone, I'll have a care,
And top my part, I warrant, to a hair;
There's not a courtier of them all shall vie
For fawning and for suppleness with me.'
⁠And thus resolved at last, the travellers
Towards the house together shape their course.
The dog, who breeding well did understand,
In walking gives his guest the upper hand;
And as they walk along, they all the while
With mirth and pleasant raillery beguile
The tedious time and way, till day drew near,
And light came on; by which did soon appear
The mastiff's neck to view all worn and bare.
⁠This when his comrade spied, 'What means,' said he,
'This circle bare, which round your neck I see?
If I may be so bold;'—’Sir, you must know,
That I at first was rough and fierce like you,
Of nature cursed, and often apt to bite
Strangers, and else, whoever came in sight;
For this I was tied up, and underwent
The whip sometimes, and such light chastisement;