manity of the Author, Homer's account of Ulyffes's Dog Argus is the most pathetick imaginable, all the Circumstances confider'd, and an excellent proof of the old Bard's Good-nature. Ulyffes had left him at Ithaca when he embark'd for Troy, and found him at his return after twenty years, (which by the way is not unnatural as some Critics have faid, fince I remember the dam of my dog was twenty-two years old when the dy'd: May the omen of longævity prove fortunate to her fucceffor !) You fhall have it in verfe.

ARGUS.

When wife Ulyffes from his native coast
Long kept by wars, and long by tempefts toft,
Arriv'd at laft, poor, old, difguis'd, alone,
To all his friends, and ev'n his Queen, unknown,
Chang'd as he was, with age, and tails, and

cares,

Furrow'd his rev'rend face, and white his hairs,
In his own Palace forc'd to ask bis bread,
Scorn'd by these flaves his former bounty fed,
Forgot of all his own domeftick crew;
The faithful Dog alone his rightful Mafter

knew!

Unfed,

Unfed, unbous'd, neglected, on the clay, " Like an old fervant now cafkier'd, he lay Touch'd with refentment of ungrateful man, And longing to behold his antient Lord again. Him when he faw-be rofe, and crawl'd to

meet,

('Twas all he cou'd) and fawn'd, and kifs'ł, his feet,

Seiz'd with dumb joy-then falling by his fide, Own'd his returning Lord, look'd up, and dy'd!

Plutarch relating how the Athenians were oblig'd to abandon Athens in the time of Themistocles, fteps back again out of the way of his History, purely to describe the lamen. table cries and howlings of the poor Dogs they left behind. He makes mention of one, that follow'd his Mafter across the Sea to Salamis, where he dy'd and was honour'd with a Tomb by the Athenians, who gave the name of the Deg's Grave to that part of the Island where he was buried: this re-. fpect to a dog in the moft polite people of the world, is very obfervable. A modern inftance of gratitude to a Dog (tho' we have but few fuch) is, that the chief Order of Denmark (now injuriously call'd the Order of the Elephant) was inftituted in memory of the fidelity of a dog nam'd Wild-brat, to one of their Kings who had been deferted T

by

by his fubjects: He gave his order this motto, or to this effect, (which ftill remains) Wild-brat was faithful. Sir William Trumbull has told me a story which he heard from one that was prefent: King Charles I. being with fome of his Court during his troubles, a difcourfe arofe what fort of dogs deferv'd pre-eminence, and it being on all hands agreed to belong either to the Spaniel or Greyhound, the King gave his opinion on the part of the Greyhound, because (faid he) it has all the Good-nature of the other, without the Fawning. A good piece of fatire upon his Courtiers, with which I will conclude my Difcourfe of Dogs. Call me a Cynick, or what you please, in revenge for all this impertinence, I will be contented; provided you will but believe me when I fay a bold word for a chriftian, that, of all dogs, you will find none more faithful than

I'

Your, &c.

April 10, 1710.

Had written to you fooner, but that I made fome fcruple of fending prophane things to you in Holy week. Befides our Family wou'd have been fcandaliz'd to fee me write, who take it for granted I write nothing but ungodly Verfes. Faffure you I

am

am look'd upon in the Neighbourhood for a very well-difpos'd perfon, no great Hunter indeed, but a great Admirer of the noble fport, and only unhappy in my want of conftitution for that, and Drinking. They all fay 'tis pity I am fo fickly, and I think 'tis pity they are fo healthy. But I fay nothing that may deftroy their good opinion of me: I have not quoted one Latin Author fince I came down, but have learn'd without book a Song of Mr. Thomas Durfey's, who is your only Poet of tolerable reputa tion in this country. He makes all the merriment in our Entertainments, and but for him, there would be fo miferable a dearth of Catches,' that I fear they would put either the Parfon or me upon making fome for 'em. Any man, of any quality, is heartily welcome to the beft Topeing-Table of our Gentry, who can roar out fome Rhapsodies of his works: fo that in the fame manner as it was faid of Homer to his Detra&tors, What? Dares any man speak against Him who has given fo many men to Eat? (Meaning the Rhapfodifts who live by repeating his verfes) thus may it be faid of Mr. Durfey to his Detractors; Dares any one defpife Him, who has made fo many men Drink? Alas, Sir! this is a glory which neither you nor I muft ever pretend to. Neither you with your Ovid, nor I with my T 2 Statius,

Statius, can amufe a whole board of Juftices and extraordinary 'Squires, or gain one hum of approbation, or laugh of admiration! These things (they wou'd fay) are too studious, they may do well enough with fuch as love Reading, but give us your antient Poet Mr. Durfey! Tis mortifying enough, it must be confefs'd; but however, let us proceed in the way that nature has directed us-Multi multa fciunt, fed nemo omnia, as it is faid in the Almanack. Let us communicate our works for our mutual comfort ; fend me Elegies, and you fhall not want Heroicks. At prefent, I have only thefe Arguments in Profe to the Thebaid, which you claim by promife, as I do your Tranflation of Pars me Sulmo tenet and the Ring: the reft I hope for as foon as you can conveniently transcribe 'em, and whatsoever orders you are pleas'd to give me fhall be punctually obey'd by

Your, &c.

May 10, 1710.

Had not fo long omitted to express my acknowledgments to you for fo much good-nature and friendship as you lately thow'd me; but that I am but just return'd to my own Hermitage, from Mr. Caryl's,

who