Behind she hears the hunter's cries,
And from the deep-mouth'd thunder flies:
She starts, she stops, she pants for breath;
She hears the near advance of death;
She doubles to mislead the hound,
And measures back her mazy round,
Till, fainting in the public way,
Half dead with fear she gasping lay.
What transport in her bosom grew,
When first the horse appear'd in view!
“Let me,” says she, “your back ascend,
And owe my safety to a friend.
You know my feet betray my flight:
To friendship every burden's light.'

The Horse replied: "Poor honest Puss,
It grieves my heart to see thee thus:
Be comforted-relief is near,

And all your friends are in the rear.”
She next the stately Bull implored;
And thus replied the mighty lord:

"Since every beast alive can tell
That I sincerely wish

I

you

well;

may, without offence, pretend

To take the freedom of a friend.

Love calls me hence; a favourite cow
Expects me near yon barley mow;
And when a lady's in the case,
You know all other things give place.
To leave you thus might seem unkind,
But see, the Goat is just behind."

The Goat remark'd her pulse was high, Her languid head, her heavy eye : "My back," says he, "may do you harm; The Sheep's at hand, and wool is warm.”

The Sheep was feeble, and complain'd
His sides a load of wool sustain'd;
Said he was slow; confess'd his fears;
For hounds eat Sheep as well as Hares.
She now the trotting Calf address'd
To save from death a friend distress'd.
"Shall I," says he, "of tender age,
In this important care engage ?
Older and abler pass'd you by;

How strong are those! how weak am I!
Should I presume to bear you hence,
Those friends of mine may take offence;
Excuse me, then: you know my heart ;
But dearest friends, alas! must part.
How shall we all lament! Adieu !
For see the hounds are just in view."

FABLES.

PART II.

ADVERTISEMENT.

These Fables were finished by Mr. GAY, and intended for the press a short time before his death. They were left, with his other papers, to the care of his noble friend and patron the Duke of Queensberry; who permitted them to be printed from the originals in the Author's own handwriting.