Dog for a Truffle;
Though your body be thin, and your spirits be low,
Comparisons often will comfort bestow;
Look at me, and acknowledge, that I'm somewhat leaner,
For they famish poor TRUFFLER to make him the keener."

[Illustration: "_And watch'd o'er the Goods while their masters got
tipsy." p. 10._]

[Illustration]

[Illustration: "_At length rose the Mastiff so gruff, and so surly."
p. 11._]

At length rose the MASTIFF so gruff, and so surly,
That the Curs scamper'd off in a sad hurly burly.
"I am glad to observe that none of you dare
To boast of your courage; for," said he, "to compare
Your valour with mine, in vain would you strive all,
My Cousin the BULL-DOG alone is my rival;
We're both so undaunted, determined, and bold,
That on what we have fasten'd, we never quit hold.
He regrets that this meeting he cannot attend,
But he's gone into Norfolk to visit a friend,
And has left it with me his excuses to make,
While _he_ is engaged with the Bull at the stake."
"Hold hold,"--cried a Dog of gigantic dimensions,
Who came from Hibernia to urge his pretensions,
"Of your valour so matchless you're wondrously full,
But my honies you know, I'm the dog for a Bull;
And learn, my Progenitors, fam'd dogs of yore,
Could do more in two days, than you in a score.
Their brave feats I am told, are recorded by sages,
(Who wrote both of beasts and of men in past ages,)
That the WOLF-DOGS of ERIN, so fierce in their rage,
Dared in war with the Lords of the Forest engage,
And could I but meet with the beasts they have slain,
I'm the dog, my dear joy, to kill them again."
Cried the MASTIFF in haste, as he rose to reply,
"Your merit, dread Sir, I don't mean to deny,
For historical facts I'm inclined to rely on,
And tis said that your Ancestors vanquished the Lion;
Allowed--But I'm told, that at _present_ your race[B]
In Kamstchatka but fills a subordinate place."
Here a great dog observ'd--"Don't think me romantic,
Yet my Parents were born beyond the Atlantic;
But to brag of descent is not in my plan;
For merit more sterling I'm valu'd by man:
Through the journey of life, I his footsteps attend,
By night I'm his guardian, by day I'm his friend;
My pastime's to dive in the River or Sea,
For the rage of the deep has no terrors for me;
Nor for pleasure alone these risks do I brave, }
Kind fortune allowed me, my master to save, }
When, expiring, he struggled in vain with the wave." }
Said the