THE
WOLF
,
SHEEP
,
AND
LAMB
.
BY
THE
SAME
.
DUTY
demands
,
the
parent's
voice
Should
sanctify
the
daughter's
choice
;
In
that
,
is
due
obedience
shewn
;
To
choose
,
belongs
to
her
alone
.
May
horror
seize
his
midnight
hour
,
Who
builds
upon
a
parent's
pow'r
,
And
claims
,
by
purchase
vile
and
base
,
The
loathing
maid
for
his
embrace
;
Hence
virtue
sickens
,
and
the
breast
,
Where
Peace
had
built
her
downy
nest
,
Becomes
the
troubled
seat
of
Care
,
And
pines
with
anguish
and
despair
.
A
Wolf
,
rapacious
,
rough
,
and
bold
,
Whose
nightly
plunders
thinn'd
the
fold
,
Contemplating
his
ill-spent
life
,
And
,
cloy'd
with
thefts
,
would
take
a
wife
.
His
purpose
known
,
the
savage
race
,
In
num'rous
crouds
,
attend
the
place
;
For
why
,
a
mighty
Wolf
he
was
,
And
held
dominion
in
his
jaws
.
Her
fav'rite
whelp
each
mother
brought
,
And
,
humbly
,
his
alliance
sought
;
But
cold
by
age
,
or
else
too
nice
,
None
found
acceptance
in
his
eyes
.
It
happen'd
,
as
,
at
early
dawn
,
He
solitary
cross'd
the
lawn
,
Stray'd
from
the
fold
,
a
sportive
lamb
Skipp'd
wanton
,
by
her
fleecy
dam
;
When
Cupid
,
foe
to
man
and
beast
,
Discharg'd
an
arrow
at
his
breast
.
The
tim'rous
breed
the
robber
knew
,
And
,
trembling
,
o'er
the
meadow
flew
;
Their
nimblest
speed
the
Wolf
o'ertook
,
And
,
courteous
,
thus
the
dam
bespoke
.
Stay
,
fairest
,
and
suspend
your
fear
;
Trust
me
,
no
enemy
is
near
:
These
jaws
,
in
slaughter
oft
imbru'd
,
At
length
,
have
known
enough
of
blood
;
And
kinder
business
brings
me
now
,
Vanquish'd
,
at
beauty's
foot
to
bow
.
You
have
a
daughter
—
Sweet
,
forgive
A
Wolf's
address
—
In
her
I
live
;
Love
from
her
eyes
like
lightning
came
,
And
set
my
marrow
all
on
flame
;
Let
your
consent
confirm
my
choice
,
And
ratify
our
nuptial
joys
.
Me
ample
wealth
and
pow'r
attend
,
Wide
o'er
the
plains
my
realms
extend
;
What
midnight
robber
dare
invade
The
fold
,
if
I
the
guard
am
made
?
At
home
the
shepherd's
cur
may
sleep
,
While
I
secure
his
master's
sheep
.
Discourse
like
this
attention
claim'd
;
Grandeur
the
mother's
breast
inflam'd
;
Now
,
fearless
by
his
side
she
walk'd
,
Of
settlements
and
jointures
talk'd
;
Propos'd
,
and
doubled
her
demands
,
Of
flow'ry
fields
,
and
turnep-lands
,
The
wolf
agrees
.
Her
bosom
swells
;
To
miss
her
happy
fate
she
tells
;
And
,
of
the
grand
alliance
vain
,
Contemns
her
kindred
of
the
plain
.
The
loathing
lamb
with
horror
hears
,
And
wearies
out
her
dam
with
pray'rs
;
But
all
in
vain
;
mamma
best
knew
What
unexperienced
girls
should
do
?
So
,
to
the
neighbouring
meadow
carry'd
,
A
formal
ass
the
couple
marry'd
.
Torn
from
the
tyrant
mother's
side
,
The
trembler
goes
,
a
victim-bride
,
Reluctant
meets
the
rude
embrace
,
And
bleats
among
the
howling
race
.
With
horror
oft
her
eyes
behold
Her
murder'd
kindred
of
the
fold
;
Each
day
a
sister
lamb
is
serv'd
,
And
at
the
glutton's
table
carv'd
;
The
crashing
bones
he
grinds
for
food
,
And
slakes
his
thirst
with
streaming
blood
.
Love
,
who
the
cruel
mind
detests
,
And
lodges
but
in
gentle
breasts
,
Was
now
no
more
.
Enjoyment
past
,
The
savage
hunger'd
for
the
feast
;
But
(
as
we
find
in
human
race
,
A
mask
conceals
the
villain's
face
)
Justice
must
authorize
the
treat
;
Till
then
he
long'd
,
but
durst
not
eat
.
As
forth
he
walk'd
,
in
quest
of
prey
,
The
hunters
met
him
on
the
way
;
Fear
wings
his
flight
;
the
marsh
he
sought
!
The
snuffing
dogs
are
set
at
fault
.
His
stomach
baulk'd
,
now
hunger
gnaws
;
Howling
,
he
grinds
his
empty
jaws
;
Food
must
be
had
—
and
lamb
is
nigh
;
His
maw
invokes
the
fraudful
lye
.
Is
this
(
dissembling
rage
)
he
cry'd
,
The
gentle
virtue
of
a
bride
?
That
,
leagu'd
with
man's
destroying
race
,
She
sets
her
husband
for
the
chace
?
By
treach'ry
prompts
the
noisy
hound
To
scent
his
footsteps
on
the
ground
?
Thou
trait'ress
vile
!
for
this
thy
blood
Shall
glut
my
rage
,
and
dye
the
wood
!
So
saying
,
on
the
lamb
he
flies
;
Beneath
his
jaws
the
victim
dies
.