460 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1800. 



What say'st thou, Dobbin ? what though hounds await 



With open jaws the moment of thy fate, 



No better fate attends his public race ; 



His life is misery, and his end disgrace. 



Then freely bear thy burden to the mill, 



Obey but one short law, — thy driver's will. 



Affection, to thy memory ever true. 



Shall boast of mighty loads that Dobbin drew ; 



And back to childhood shall the mind with pride 



Recount thy gentleness in many a ride 



To pond, or field, or village fair, when thou 



Held'st high thy braided mane and comely brow ; 



And oft the tale shall rise to homely fame 



Upon thy gen'rous spirit and thy name. 



SUFFOLK CHEESE ; from the same, 



UNRIVALL'D stands thy country cheese, O Giles! 

 Whose very name alone engenders smile; 

 Whose fame abroad by every tongue is spoke, 

 The well-known butt of many a flinty joke. 

 That pass like current coin the nation through ; 

 And, ah ! experience proves the satire true. 

 Provision's grave, thou ever-craving mart, 

 Dependent, huge metropolis ! where art 

 Her poring thousands stows in breathless rooms. 

 Midst pois'nous smokes and steams, and rattling looms; 

 Where grandeur revels in unbounded stores ; 

 Restraint, a slighted stranger at their doors I 

 Thou, like a whirlpool, drain'st the countries round, 

 Till London market, London price, resound 

 Through every town, round every passing load, 

 And dairy produce throngs the eastern road ; 

 Delicious veal, and butter, every hour. 

 From Essex lowlands, and the banks of Stour ; 

 And farther far, where numerous herds repose, 

 From Orwell's brink, from Waveny, or Ouse. 

 Hence Suffolk dairy-wives run mad for cream, 

 And leave their milk with nothing but its name ; 

 Its name derision and reproach pursue, 

 And strangers tell of " three times skimm'd sky-blue." 

 To cheese converted, what can be its boast ? 

 What, but the common virtues of a post ! 

 If drought o'ertake it faster than the knife, 

 Most fair it bids for stubborn length of life. 



