THE MASTIFF. 



Vigilance, &c. 



Attest his joy : then with deep-opening mouth 

 That makes the welkin tremble, he proclaims 

 Th* audacious felon : Foot by foot he marks 

 His winding way, while all the list'ning crowd 

 Applaud his reasonings. O'er the wat'ry ford. 

 Dry sandy heaths, and stony barren hills ; 

 O'er beaten paths, with men and beast distain'd, 

 Unerring he pursues ; till at the cot 

 Arriv'd, and seizing by his guilty throat 

 The caitiff vile, redeems the captive prey. 

 So exquisitely delicate his sense !" 



THE MASTIFF. 



THE mastiff seems peculiar to Great Britain, 

 where it is principally used as a watch-dog ; a 

 duty which it discharges not only with great fide- 

 lity, but frequently with considerable judgment. 

 Some of these animals will suffer a stranger to 

 come into the inclosure they are appointed to 

 guard, and will go peaceably along with him 

 through every part of it, so long as he continues 

 to touch nothing ; but the moment he attempts 

 to lay hold of any of the goods, or endeavours 

 to quit the place, the animal informs him, first 

 by gentle growling, or, (if that prove ineffectual) 

 by harsher means, that he must neither do misr 

 chief, nor go away. He seldom uses violence 

 unless resisted ; and even in this case he will 

 sometimes ^seize the person, throw him down, 

 and hold him there until relieved, without biting 

 him. 



