FABLE
[
17
]
XVII
.
The
Shepherd's
Dog
and
the
Wolf
.
A
Wolf
,
with
hunger
fierce
and
bold
,
Ravag'd
the
plains
and
thinn'd
the
fold
:
Deep
in
the
wood
secure
he
lay
,
The
thefts
of
night
regal'd
the
day
;
In
vain
the
shepherd's
wakeful
care
Had
spread
the
toils
and
watch'd
the
snare
,
In
vain
the
dog
pursu'd
his
pace
,
The
fleeter
robber
mock'd
the
chase
.
As
Lightfoot
rang'd
the
forest
round
,
By
chance
his
foe's
retreat
he
found
.
Let
us
awhile
the
war
suspend
,
And
reason
as
from
friend
to
friend
.
A
truce
,
replys
the
Wolf
?
'Tis
done
.
The
Dog
the
parley
thus
begun
.
How
can
that
strong
intrepid
mind
Attack
a
weak
defenceless
kind
?
Those
jaws
should
prey
on
nobler
food
,
And
drink
the
boar's
and
lyon's
blood
;
Great
souls
with
gen'rous
pity
melt
,
Which
coward
tyrants
never
felt
:
How
harmless
is
our
fleecy
care
!
Be
brave
,
and
let
thy
mercy
spare
.
Friend
,
says
the
Wolf
,
the
matter
weigh
.
Nature
design'd
us
beasts
of
prey
,
As
such
,
when
hunger
finds
a
treat
,
'Tis
necessary
wolves
should
eat
.
If
mindful
of
the
bleating
weal
,
Thy
bosom
burn
with
real
zeal
,
Hence
,
and
thy
tyrant
lord
beseech
,
To
him
repeat
the
moving
speech
;
A
wolf
eats
sheep
but
now
and
then
,
Ten
thousands
are
devour'd
by
men
.
An
open
foe
may
prove
a
curse
,
But
a
pretended
friend
is
worse
.