26 SHOOTING : 



With the small Springer, us'd for sporting then; 



The Talbot's use, to track the vile of men ; 



Oft murd'rers from their haunts were ferrited, 



Who met the death they justly merited : 



Nor only this, the deer they also chas'd, 



Thus justice aided, and the table grac'd ; 



And none but will, I'm sure, with me repine, 



At thought of losing such a useful line. 



Well ! this same cross, mayhap, this dog produc'd, 



Which for a length of time was only us'd, 



Until the Newfoundland this country gain'd, 



And by his cross the establish'd dog obtain'd. 



Yet, still, th' above is little but a guess, 



Tho' ventur'd shrewdly, freely I confess : 



But, mostly, naturalists, I find, agree 



That each description is the progeny 



Of the rough Shepherd's dog the first recall'd 



From nature's wilds, to be by man install'd 



The guardian of his flocks, and train'd to keep 



'er them his wakeful watch, while men should sleep ; 



