IX. The frighted beast ran on-but here, (No tale, tho' in print, more true is) A tear for good old Lewis! X. The frighted beast ran through the town; Bull-dog, Parson, Shopman, Clown: The Publicans rush'd from the Crown, "Halloo! hamstring him! cut him down !" THEY DROVE THE POOR OX MAD. XI. Should you a Rat to madness teize, Why e'en a Rat may plague you : There's no Philosopher but sees That Rage and Fear are one disease Though that may burn and this may freeze, They're both alike the Ague. XII. And so this Ox, in frantic mood, Faced round like any Bull The mob turn'd tail, and he pursued, Till they with heat and fright were stewed, And not a chick of all this brood But had his belly full. XIII. Old Nick's astride the beast, 'tis clear Old Nicholas, to a tittle! But all agree, he'd disappear, Would but the Parson venture near, And through his teeth,* right o'er the steer, Squirt out some fasting-spittle. XIV. Achilles was a warrior fleet, The Trojans he could worry- The victor Ox scour'd down the street, The mob fled hurry-scurry. * According to the superstition of the West-Countries, if you meet the Devil, you may either cut him in half with a straw, or force him to disappear by spitting over his horns. XV. Through gardens, lanes and fields new plough'd, Through his hedge, and through her hedge, He plung'd and toss'd and bellow'd loud, To see this helter-skelter crowd, That had more wrath than courage. XVI. Alas! to mend the breaches wide He made for these poor ninnies, They all must work, whate'er betide, Both days and months, and pay beside, (Sad news for Avarice and for Pride) A sight of golden guineas! XVII. But here once more to view did pop The man that kept his senses; And now he cried-" Stop, neighbours! stop; "The Ox is mad! I would not swop, "No! not a school-boy's farthing-top, "For all the parish-fences." XVIII. "The Ox is mad! Ho! Dick, Bob, Mat!" What means this coward fuss? "Ho! stretch this rope across the plat― " "Twill trip him up—or if not that, Why, damme! we must lay him flat- XIX. "A lying dog! just now he said "The Ox was only glad― "Let's break his presbyterian head!" "Hush!" quoth the sage, "you've been misled; "No quarrels now-let's all make head— "YOU DROVE THE POOR OX MAD." XX. As thus I sat, in careless chat, With the morning's wet newspaper, In eager haste, without his hat, In came that fierce Aristocrat, Our pursy Woollen-draper. VOL. II. |