enever any one entered whom I guessed
to be a stranger, I barked at him; and when the master entered, I went
up to him with my head down, my tail wagging, and licked his shoes. If
they drove me out with sticks, I took it patiently, and turned with the
same gentleness to fawn in the same way on the person who beat me. The
rest let me alone, seeing my perseverance and my generous behaviour; and
after one or two turns of this kind, I got a footing in the house. I was
a good servant: they took a liking to me immediately; and I was never
turned out, but dismissed myself, or, to speak more properly, I ran
away; and sometimes I met with such a master, that but for the
persecution of fortune I should have remained with him to this day.

_Scip._ It was just in the same way that I got into the houses of the
masters I served. It seems that we read men's thoughts.

_Berg._ I will tell you now what happened to me after I left the fold in
the power of those reprobates. I returned, as I have said, to Seville,
the asylum of the poor and refuge for the destitute, which embraces in
its greatness not only the rude but the mighty and nourishing. I planted
myself at the door of a large house belonging to a merchant, exerted
myself as usual, and after a few trials gained admission. They kept me
tied up behind the door by day, and let me loose at night. I did my duty
with great care and diligence, barked at strangers, and growled at
those who were not well known. I did not sleep at night, but visited the
yards, and walked about the terraces, acting as general guard over our
own house and those of the neighbours; and my master was so pleased with
my good service, that he gave orders I should be well treated, and have
a ration of bread, with the bones from his table, and the kitchen
scraps. For this I showed my gratitude by no end of leaps when I saw my
master, especially when he came home after being abroad; and such were
my demonstrations of joy that my master ordered me to be untied, and
left loose day and night. As soon as I was set free, I ran to him, and
gambolled all round him, without venturing to lay my paws on him; for I
bethought me of that ass in AEsop's Fables, who was ass enough to think
of fondling his master in the same manner as his favourite lap-dog, and
was well basted for his pains. I understood that fable to signify, that
what is graceful and comely in some is not so in others. Let the ribald
flout and jeer, the mountebank