Imitative powers of the dog. 



perseverance, as may prove most interesting and 

 amusive. 



Plutarch informs us, that he was a spectator, at 

 Rome of the wonderful docilily of a dog, which 

 belonged to a certain mimic, who at that time 

 had the management of a farce, wherein there 

 was great variety of parts, which he undertook 

 to instruct the actors to perform, with several 

 imitations proper for the matter and passions re- 

 presented. Among the rest there was one who 

 was to drink a sleepy potion, and, after he had 

 drank it, to fall into a deadly drowsiness, and 

 counterfeit the actions of a dying person. The 

 dog, who had studied several of the other ges- 

 tures and postures, more diligently observing 

 this, took a piece of bread that was sopped in the 

 potion, and after he had eaten it, in a short time 

 counterfeited a trembling, then a staggering, 

 and afterwards a drowsiness in his head. Then 

 stretching himself, out he lay as if he had been 

 dead, and seemed to offer himself to be dragged 

 gut of the place and carried to the burial, as the 

 plot of the play required. Afterwards, under- 

 standing the time, from what was said and acted, 

 in the first place, he began gently to stir, as if he 

 were waking out of a profound sleep; then, to 

 the amazement of the beholders, he rose up, and 

 lifting up his head, he gazed about him; and 

 then went to his master with all the signs of 

 gladness and fawning kindness; insomuch that all 



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