The Mastiff *o <^> o 



""HOSE who in quarrels interpose 

 Must often wipe a bloody nose. 



A Mastiff, of true English blood, 

 Loved fighting better than his food. 

 When dogs were snarling for a bone, 

 He long'd to make the war his own, 

 And often found (when two contend) 

 To interpose obtain'd his end ; 

 He gloried in his limping pace ; 

 The scars of honour seam'd his face ; 

 In ev'ry limb a gash appears, 

 And frequent fights retrenched his ears. 



As, on a time, he heard from far 

 Two dogs engaged in noisy war, 

 Away he scours and lays about him, 

 Resolved no fray should be without him. 



Forth from his yard a tanner flies, 

 And to the bold intruder cries : 



A cudgel shall correct your manners 

 Whence sprung this cursed hate to tanners ? 

 While on my dog you vent your spite, 

 Sirrah ! 'tis me you dare not bite. 



To see the battle thus perplex'd 

 With equal rage a butcher vex'd, 

 Hoarse-screaming from the circled crowd, 

 To the cursed Mastiff cries aloud : 



Both Hockley-Hole and Mary-bone 



62 



