Page:Fugitive Poetry 1600-1878.djvu/490
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FRANK HAYMAN.
A dog, who saw the man's condition,
A lean and hungry politician,
On the look-out was lurking close behind,
A sly and subtle chap, of most sagacious smell,
Like politicians of a higher kind,
Ready to snap at anything that fell.
A lean and hungry politician,
On the look-out was lurking close behind,
A sly and subtle chap, of most sagacious smell,
Like politicians of a higher kind,
Ready to snap at anything that fell.
The porter staggered on, the dog kept near,
Watching the lucky minute for a bite,
Now made a spring, and then drew back with fear,
While Hayman followed, tittering at the sight.
Watching the lucky minute for a bite,
Now made a spring, and then drew back with fear,
While Hayman followed, tittering at the sight.
Through many a street the tipsy porter reels,
Then stops—as if to solemn thought inclined—
The watchful dog was ready at his heels,
And Hayman hobbled on, not far behind.
Then stops—as if to solemn thought inclined—
The watchful dog was ready at his heels,
And Hayman hobbled on, not far behind.
Then rolling on again, the man surveyed
One of those happy mansions where
A cordial drop imparts its cheering aid
To all the thirsty sons of care.
One of those happy mansions where
A cordial drop imparts its cheering aid
To all the thirsty sons of care.
The sight of this refreshing place,
The scent that hails him from the door,
Arrest at once his rambling pace—
As they had often done before.
The scent that hails him from the door,
Arrest at once his rambling pace—
As they had often done before.
Straight on a bench without he stretched along,
Regardless of the passing throng,
And soon his weary eyelids close,
While Somnus soothes him to repose
The hare now prostrate at his back,
This was the time to get a snack.
Regardless of the passing throng,
And soon his weary eyelids close,
While Somnus soothes him to repose
The hare now prostrate at his back,
This was the time to get a snack.
The dog, unable longer to refrain,
Gazed at the hare,
Who caused his care,
Jumpt and bit, jumpt and bit, jumpt and bit, and bit again.
At length, when he had cleared away the rest,
The sated spoiler finished on the breast.
Gazed at the hare,
Who caused his care,
Jumpt and bit, jumpt and bit, jumpt and bit, and bit again.
At length, when he had cleared away the rest,
The sated spoiler finished on the breast.
Then having made a hearty meal,
He careless turned upon his heel,
Nor thought of asking "What's to pay?"
But scampered at his ease away.
He careless turned upon his heel,
Nor thought of asking "What's to pay?"
But scampered at his ease away.