And now distress'd, no sheltering covert near, 

 Into the hen-roost creeps, whose walls with gore 

 Distain'd attest his guilt. There, villain, there 

 Expect thy fate deserv'd. And soon from thence 

 The pack inquisitive, with clamor loud, 

 Drag out their trembling prize j and on his blood 

 With greedy transport feast. In bolder notes 

 Each sounding horn proclaims the felon dead : 

 And all th' assembled village shouts for joy. 



« • • • 



Rapine and spoil 

 Haunt ev'n the lowest deeps ; seas have their 



sharks, 

 Rivers and ponds inclos'd the rav'nous pike ; 

 He in his turn becomes a prey ; on him 

 Th' amphibious otter feasts. Just is his fate 

 Deserv'd ; but tyrants know no bounds ; nor spears 

 That bristle on his back defend the perch 

 From his wide greedy jaws ; nor burnish'd mail 

 The yellow carp ; nor all his arts can save 

 Th' insinuating eel, that hides his head 

 Beneath the slimy mud ; not yet escapes 

 The crimson-spotted trout, the river's pride, 

 And beauty of the stream. Without remorse, 

 This midnight pillager ranging around, 

 Insatiate swallows all. The owner mourns 

 Th' unpeopled rivulet, and gladly hears 

 The huntsman's early call, and sees with joy 

 The jovial crew, that march upon its banks 



54 



