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[Page 115][Page 117]
[Illustration]
FABLE [34] XXXIV.
The Mastiffs.
1 Those, who in quarrels interpose,
2 Must often wipe a bloody nose.
3 A Mastiff, of true English blood,
4 Lov'd fighting better than his food,
5 When dogs were snarling for a bone,
6 He long'd to make the war his own,
[Page 116]7 And often found (when two contend)
8 To interpose obtain'd his end;
9 He glory'd in his limping pace,
10 The scars of honour seam'd his face,
11 In ev'ry limb a gash appears,
12 And frequent fights retrench'd his ears.
13 As, on a time, he heard from far
14 Two dogs engag'd in noisy war,
15 Away he scours and lays about him,
16 Resolv'd no fray should be without him.
17 Forth from his yard a tanner flies,
18 And to the bold intruder cries.
19 A cudgel shall correct your manners.
20 Whence sprung this cursed hate to tanners?
21 While on my dog you vent your spite;
22 Sirrah, 'tis me you dare not bite.
23 To see the battel thus perplext,
24 With equal rage a butcher vext,
25 Hoarse-screaming from the circled croud,
26 To the curst Mastiff cries aloud.
27 Both Hockley-hole and Mary-bone
28 The combats of my dog have known;
29 He ne'er, like bullies coward-hearted,
30 Attacks in publick, to be parted;
31 Think not, rash fool, to share his fame,
32 Be his the honour or the shame.
33 Thus said, they swore and rav'd like thunder,
34 Then dragg'd their fasten'd dogs asunder,
35 While clubs and kicks from ev'ry side
36 Rebounded from the Mastiff's hide.
37 All reeking now with sweat and blood
38 A-while the parted warriors stood,
39 Then pour'd upon the meddling foe;
40 Who, worried, howl'd and sprawl'd below:
41 He rose; and limping from the fray,
42 By both sides mangled, sneak'd away.
Source edition
Gay, John, 1685-1732. FABLES. By Mr. GAY. London: Printed for J. Tonson and J. Watts, MDCCXXVII., 1727, pp. 115-117. [14],173,[1]p.: ill.; 4°. (ESTC T13818)
Editorial principles
Typography, spelling, capitalization, and punctuation have been cautiously modernized. The source of the text is given and all significant editorial interventions have been recorded in textual notes. This ECPA text has been edited to conform to the recommendations found in Level 5 of the Best Practices for TEI in Libraries version 4.0.0.
Other works by John Gay
- [FABLE ] INTRODUCTION TO THE FABLES. The Shepherd and the Philosopher. ()
- FABLE [01] I. The Lyon, the Tyger, and the Traveller. ()
- FABLE [02] II. The Spaniel and the Cameleon. ()
- FABLE [03] III. The Mother, the Nurse, and the Fairy. ()
- FABLE [04] IV. The Eagle, and the Assembly of Animals. ()
- FABLE [05] V. The Wild Boar and the Ram. ()
- FABLE [06] VI. The Miser and Plutus. ()
- FABLE [07] VII. The Lyon, the Fox, and the Geese. ()
- FABLE [08] VIII. The Lady and the Wasp. ()
- FABLE [09] IX. The Bull and the Mastiff. ()
- FABLE [10] X. The Elephant and the Bookseller. ()
- FABLE [11] XI. The Peacock, the Turkey, and Goose. ()
- FABLE [12] XII. Cupid, Hymen, and Plutus. ()
- FABLE [13] XIII. The tame Stag. ()
- FABLE [14] XIV. The Monkey who had seen the World. ()
- FABLE [15] XV. The Philosopher and the Pheasants. ()
- FABLE [16] XVI. The Pin and the Needle. ()
- FABLE [17] XVII. The Shepherd's Dog and the Wolf. ()
- FABLE [18] XVIII. The Painter who pleased No body and Every body. ()
- FABLE [19] XIX. The Lyon and the Cub. ()
- FABLE [20] XX. The Old Hen and the Cock. ()
- FABLE [21] XXI. The Rat-catcher and Cats. ()
- FABLE [22] XXII. The Goat without a beard. ()
- FABLE [23] XXIII. The Old Woman and her Cats. ()
- FABLE [24] XXIV. The Butterfly and the Snail. ()
- FABLE [25] XXV. The Scold and the Parrot. ()
- FABLE [26] XXVI. The Cur and the Mastiff. ()
- FABLE [27] XXVII. The Sick Man and the Angel. ()
- FABLE [28] XXVIII. The Persian, the Sun and the Cloud. ()
- FABLE [29] XXIX. The Fox at the point of death. ()
- FABLE [30] XXX. The Setting-dog and the Partridge. ()
- FABLE [31] XXXI. The Universal Apparition. ()
- FABLE [32] XXXII. The two Owls and the Sparrow. ()
- FABLE [33] XXXIII. The Courtier and Proteus. ()
- FABLE [35] XXXV. The Barley-mow and the Dung-hill. ()
- FABLE [36] XXXVI. Pythagoras and the Countryman. ()
- FABLE [37] XXXVII. The Farmer's Wife and the Raven. ()
- FABLE [38] XXXVIII. The Turkey and the Ant. ()
- FABLE [39] XXXIX. The Father and Jupiter. ()
- FABLE [40] XL. The two Monkeys. ()
- FABLE [41] XLI. The Owl and the Farmer. ()
- FABLE [42] XLII. The Jugglers. ()
- FABLE [43] XLIII. The Council of Horses. ()
- FABLE [44] XLIV. The Hound and the Huntsman. ()
- FABLE [45] XLV. The Poet and the Rose. ()
- FABLE [46] XLVI. The Cur, the Horse, and the Shepherd's Dog. ()
- FABLE [47] XLVII. The Court of Death. ()
- FABLE [48] XLVIII. The Gardener and the Hog. ()
- FABLE [49] XLIX. The Man and the Flea. ()
- FABLE [50] L. The Hare and many Friends. ()