t remove the screen.
A country squire, by whim directed,
The true stanch dogs of chase neglected.
Beneath his board no hound was fed,
His hand ne'er stroked the spaniel's head.
A snappish cur, alone caress'd,
By lies had banished all the rest.
Yap had his ear; and defamation
Gave him full scope of conversation.
_120
His sycophants must be preferr'd,
Room must be made for all his herd:
Wherefore, to bring his schemes about,
Old faithful servants all must out.
The cur on every creature flew,
(As other great men's puppies do,)
Unless due court to him were shown,
And both their face and business known,
No honest tongue an audience found:
He worried all the tenants round;
_130
For why, he lived in constant fear,
Lest truth, by chance, should interfere.
If any stranger dare intrude,
The noisy cur his heels pursued.
Now fierce with rage, now struck with dread,
At once he snarled, bit, and fled.
Aloof he bays, with bristling hair,
And thus in secret growls his fear:
'Who knows but truth, in this disguise,
May frustrate my best-guarded lies?
_140
Should she (thus masked) admittance find,
That very hour my ruin's signed.'
Now, in his howl's continued sound,
Their words were lost, their voice was drown'd.
Ever in awe of honest tongues,
Thus every day he strained his lungs.
It happened, in ill-omened hour,
That Yap, unmindful of his power,
Forsook his post, to love inclined;
A favourite bitch was in the wind.
_150
By her seduced, in amorous play,
They frisked the joyous hours away.
Thus, by untimely love pursuing,
Like Antony, he sought his ruin.
For now the squire, unvexed with noise,
An honest neighbour's chat enjoys.
'Be free,' says he, 'your mind impart;
I love a friendly open heart.
Methinks my tenants shun my gate;
Why such a stranger grown of late?
_160
Pray tell me what offence they find:
'Tis plain they're not so well inclined.'
'Turn off your cur,' the farmer cries,
'Who feeds your ear with daily lies.
His snarling insolence offends; 165
'Tis he that keeps you from your friends.
Were but that saucy puppy check'd,
You'd find again the same respect.
Hear only him, he'll swear it too,
That all our hatred is to you.
_170
But learn from us your true estate;
'Tis that cursed cur alone we hate.'
The squire heard truth. Now Yap rushed in;
The wide hall