All that is left o' th' forked hill,

To make men scribble without skill;
Can'st make a poet spite of fate,

And teach all people to translate,
Though out of languages in which
They understand no part of speech:
Assist me but this once, I 'mplore,
And I shall trouble thee no more.

In western clime there is a town,
To those that dwell therein well known;

660

665

When w' are, or are not understood.

670

To this town people did repair

On days of market, or of fair;

'T

And to crack'd fiddle, and hoarse tabor,

In merriment did drudge and labour;

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But now a sport more formidable

Had rak'd together village-rabble;

'Twas an old way of recreating,

Which learned butchers call Bear-baiting.

A bold advent'rous exercise,

With ancient heroes in high prize:

680

For authors do affirm it came to fi ei todt IIA

From Isthmiam or Nemæan game:

Others derive it from the Bear

T

That's fix'd in northern hemisphere,j's donot bn A
And round about the pole does make 125683
A circle like a bear at stake, or burizmobum 79dT
That at the chain's end wheels about, sui teie A
And overturns the rabble-rout, nes lie I baA
For after solemn proclamationilo motesw ul
In the bear's name, (as is the fashion, 690
According to the law of arms, stort stoborodT
To keep men from inglorious harms,) cam W
That none presume to come so nearj viword no
As forty foot of stake of bear: 10,51 'w god W
If any yet be so fool-hardy, lqoq nwo enl695
T'expose themselves to vain jeopardyo ay n
If they come wounded off, and lame,

or buA No honour's got by such a main; toivom l Although the bear gain much, b'ing bound t

In honour to make good his ground, D'AT 1700 When he's engag'd, and take no notice,

If any press upon him, who 'tis;

But lets them know, at their own cost,bs blod A

That he intends to keep his post,dious diff

This to prevent, and other harms,

Which always wait on feats of arms,

(For in the hurry of a fray, op at bas us') 'Tis hard to keep out of harm's way,)zboold síT Thither the Knight his course did steer, on A To keep the peace 'twixt dog and bear; As he believ'd h' was bound to do In conscience and commission too;

T

And therefore thus bespoke the Squire:
We that are wisely mounted higher
Than constables in curule with, yd bust 2715
When on tribunal bench we sit, linoo live y
Like speculators should foreseel. I si
From Pharos of authority. @qu'a spodT)
Portended mischiefs farther than qoob A
Low Protelarian tything-men. Itodian How 720
And therefore being inform'd by bruit, v
That dog and bear had to dispute; bus wolɔ oT
For so of late men fighting name, on o 97lI
Because they often prove the same;

(For where the first does hap to be,

I

ale h

1795

The last does coincidere);" teit #o mo noq'} Quantum in nobis, have thought good; miT To save th' expence of Christian blood, booid, ni

And try if we, by mediation

Of treaty and accommodation,

730

Can end the quarrel, and compose!

The bloody duel without blows.

Are not our liberties, our lives,

The laws, religion, and our wives,
Enough at once to lie at stake.

For cov'nant and the cause's sake?

But in that quarrel dogs and bears, },
As well as we, must venture theirs?
This feud by Jesuits invented,

By evil council is fomented;

There is a Machiavilian plot,
(Though ev'ry nare olfact is not,)
A deep design in't to divide
The well affected that confide,
By setting brother against brother,
To claw and curry one another.

Have we not enemies plus satis,

That cane et angue pejus hate us?

And shall we turn our fangs and claws
Upon our ownselves without cause?!
That some occult design doth lye
In bloody cynarctomachy,

How saints lead brothers by the nose. 10 I wish myself a pseudo-prophet, or quan 1755 But sure some mischief will come of it; ilano'į Unless by providential wit,

Or force, we averruncate it.

For what design, what interest"
Can beast have to encounter beast?

on tufl

They fight for no espoused cause, odar por tud Frail privilege, fundamental laws,kati opornT Nor for a thorough reformation, tezo 206 5T Nor covenant, nor protestation,

ST

Nor liberty of consciences,lid maked

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Nor Lords nor Commons ordinances

Nor for the church, nor for church-lands,

To get them in their own no-hands;

Nor evil counsellors to bring

To justice, that seduce the king;

Nor for the worship of us men,

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Though we have done as much for them,

Th' Egyptians worshipp'd dogs, and for

773

Their faith made internecine war:

Others ador'd a rat, and some

For that church suffer'd martyrdom;