ELEGY , On a favourite DOG , suppos'd to be poison'd . To Miss Molly Clayton . O All ye spotted brutes that guard the Fair , Lie on their laps , or wait upon their chair ; Ye Cupids , Cloes , Phillis's , or Shocks , Ye who defend the houshold , or the flocks : But chiefly ye in ladies ' chambers nurst , Who leap at sweetmeats , snifting at a crust , Came and bemoan poor Sparky's poison'd dust . Hither your little whimp'ring offspring lead , And join the dismal howl , to wail him dead . Shame on the wretch , who dealt the deadly draught ! Thou human brute ! whose very name's a blot . O that kind fate would poison all thy life With some smart vixen , very much a Wife ! And when the end of thy chastisement's near , May'st thou want ratsbane then — to poison Her . Whilst the cold drug was struggling hard with life , And sense awhile maintain'd the doubtful strife ; With much of gratitude and sorrow mix'd , On me his scarce-perceiving eyes he fixt : Then to these arms with stagg'ring steps did haste , There , where he oft had slept , to sleep his last . The tear was vain ; nor will I blush to own A heart of softer workmanship than stone : Yet lest the wise my weakness should reprove , The tear I dropt to gratitude , and love . Now die , O Tabby ! all ye fav'rites fall ! Dogs , parrots , squirrels , monkeys , beaus and all ! For thou wert all those tender names in one ; That thou could'st yet survive ! — but thou art gone . Ah ! what avails thy honours now to trace ! Thy high descent , thy ancient royal race ! Thy length of ears proclaim'd the gen'rous seed , Hereditary heir of Charles's breed ; And had not William chang'd the face of things , Mightst still have bark'd beneath the throne of kings . No more shalt thou , with each revolving day , Expect the warm repast of milk and tea ; Nor when the balmy slumber I prolong , Ascend the stairs , and wake me with thy tongue : No more shall thy discerning nose descry They sav'ry steams , that speak the dinner nigh . Soon didst thou wake , and ev'ry cat assail , Then , strutting , shake the honours of thy tail . With look importunate , and begging face , Scarce could he wait the tediousness of grace : But that perform'd , he barks exulting round ; The cats are scar'd , the neighb'ring roofs resound . Whether by instinct , or by reason taught , His just conclusions spoke the use of thought . When smart toupèe exhal'd the soft perfume , He smelt a Beau , and sullen left the room . Or when the ruddy ' Squire grew loud and vain , And practis'd all the noises of the plain ; With sneaking step , at distance he'd retire , Then mount his tail , and ev'n out-bark the well-mouth'd ' Squire . But most the Fool was his invet'rate foe , That thing all over talk , all over beau : Well he distinguish'd 'twixt brocade and sense , And growl'd contempt beneath the sev'n-fold fence . O ever-watchful ! ever-faithful guard ! No more shall I thy gratitude reward . That cream , that bread and butter soak'd in tea , Is now lapp'd up as puss's lawful fee : While she , proud vixen ! often seems to say , " Peace to his shade ! — each dog must have his day . " Yet Thou , his mistress once , and late his friend , Awhile the softly-falling tear suspend : And think , whene'er your Lark shall be no more , How vain are tears , since Spark was wept before . Or rather , how uncertain life's short date , Since ev'n your fav'rites must submit to fate . But could your smile , which sure gives life to all , Back from the grave his much-lov'd form recal ; Then should these hands the welcome office pay , To wipe the dust from his reviving clay : With pleasure guard him from a world of ill , And aid his vengeance at the pois'ner's heel — Ah ! smile then ; try , exert your saving pow'r ! Be Spark your present now , as once before .