8572 The Zoologist — June, 1873. 



Bred by Ulysses, nourished at his board, 



But, ah ! not fated long to please his lord ! 



To him his swiftuess and his strength were vain ; 



The voice of glory called him o'er the main. 



Till then in every sylvan chase renowned. 



With ' Argus,' ' Argus,' rung the woods around. 



With him the youth pursued the goat or fawn. 



Or traced the mazy leveret o'er the lawn. 



Now left to man's ingratitude he lay. 



Unhoused, neglected, in the pubhc way ; 



And where on heaps the rich manure was spread. 



Obscene with reptiles, took his sordid bed. 



He knew his lord ; he knew, and strove to meet ; 



In vain he strove to crawl, and kiss his feet; 



Yet (all he could) his taU, his ears, his eyes. 



Salute bis master and confess his joys. 



Soft pity touch 'd the mighty master's soul ; 



Adown his cheek a tear unbidden stole, 



Stole unperceived; he turned his head and dried 



The drop humane ; then thus impassion'd cried : 



• What noble beast in this abandon 'd state 



Lies here all helpless at Ulysses' gate ? 



His bulk and beauty speak no vulgar praise ; 



If, as he seems, he was in better days. 



Some care his age deserves ; or was he prized 



For worthless beauty ? therefore now despised ; 



Such dogs and men there are, mere things of state ; 



And always cherished by their friends, the great.' 



' Not Argus so,' (Eumaeus thus rejoined), 

 ' But served a master of a nobler kind, 

 Who never, never shall behold him more ! 

 Long, long since perished on a distant shore ! 

 Oh, bad you seen him, vigorous, bold and young. 

 Swift as a stag, and as a lion strong ; 

 Him no fell savage on the plain withstood. 

 None 'scaped him bosomed in the gloomy wood ; 

 His eye how piercing, and his scent how true, 

 To wind the vapour in the tainted dew : 

 Such when Ulysses left his natal coast ; 

 Now years unnerve him, and his lord is lost! 

 The women keep the generous creature bare, 

 A sleek and idle race is all their care. 



