Ballads Founded on Anecdotes Relating to Animals

Excerpt

THE DOG.

BALLAD THE FIRST.

  Of all the speechless friends of man
    The faithful dog I deem
  Deserving from the human clan
    The tenderest esteem:

  This feeling creature form'd to love,
    To watch, and to defend,
  Was given to man by powers above,
    A guardian, and a friend!

  I sing, of all e'er known to live
    The truest friend canine;
  And glory if my verse may give,
    Brave Fido! it is thine.

  A dog of many a sportive trick,
    Tho' rough and large of limb.
  Fido would chase the floating stick
    When Lucy cried, "go swim."

  And what command could Lucy give,
    Her dog would not obey?
  For her it seemed his pride to live,
    Blest in her gentle sway!

  For conscious of her every care
    He strain'd each feeling nerve,
  To please that friend, his lady fair
    Commanded him to serve.

  Of many friends to Lucy dear,
    One rose above the rest;
  Proclaim'd, in glory's bright career.
    The monarch of her breast.

  Tender and brave, her Edward came
    To bid his fair adieu;
  To India call'd, in honour's name,
    To honour he was true.

  The farewell rack'd poor Lucy's heart,
    Nor pain'd her lover less;
  And Fido, when he saw them part,
    Seem'd full of their distress.

  Lucy, who thro' her tears descried
    His sympathetic air,
  "Go! with him, Fido!" fondly cried,
    "And make his life thy care!"

  The dog her order understood,
    Or seem'd to understand,
  It was his glory to make good
    Affection's kind command.

  How he obeyed;—the price how great
    His brave obedience cost,
  Fancy would faulter to relate,
    In wild conjecture lost.

  But Truth and Love, the upright pair,
    Who witnessed Fido's worth,
  His wond'rous virtue shall declare,
    A lesson to the earth!

  Not in the battle's gory tide,
    Nor in the stormy seas,
  No! Fido's noble faith was tried
    In scenes of sportive ease.

  Often in India's sultry soil
    To brace the languid limb,
  'Twas Edward's pleasure, after toil,
    To take a fearless swim.

  Bold in a flood he lov'd to leap.
    When full the current flow'd;
  Nor dreamt the water, dark, and deep.
    The crocodile's abode.

  And fearless he and Fido oft,
    Along the stream would glide;
  Their custom from the bank aloft
    To vault into the tide!

  But once, when Edward had begun
    To cast his clothes aside,
  Round him his dog would anxious run,
    And much to check him tried.

  So much, that had dumb Fido said
    "Avoid the stream to day!"
  Those words could scarce have plainer made
    What duty wish'd to say.

  Edward, too eager to enjoy
    The sport, where danger lay,
  Scolds him for gestures, that annoy,
    And beats his guard away:

  And naked now, and dreaming not
    How cruel was that blow,
  He hurries to the lofty spot,
    In haste to plunge below,

  His faithful friend, with quicker pace,
    And now with silent tongue,
  Out-stript his master in the race,
    And swift before him sprung....