E-text prepared by Chris Curnow, Diane Monico,
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FRONTISPIECE.
The Council.
THE
COUNCIL OF DOGS.
ILLUSTRATED WITH SUITABLE ENGRAVINGS.
LONDON:
PRINTED FOR J. HARRIS, SUCCESSOR TO E. NEWBERY, AT THE
ORIGINAL JUVENILE LIBRARY, THE CORNER OF
ST. PAUL'S CHURCH-YARD.
1808.
H. Bryer, Printer,
Bridge-Street, Blackfriars.
THE
COUNCIL OF DOGS.
Why a Council of Dogs was convened on the Plain,
The President Sheep Dog thus rose to explain.—
"This meeting I call, to complain of misusage
From the poets, who now a days have a strange usage
Of leading up Insects and Birds to Parnassus,
While, without rhyme or reason, unnotic'd they pass us.—
Declare then those talents by which we may claim
Some pretensions, I hope, to poetical fame.—
I boast of whole legions, my voice who obey;
Without me the Sheep, e'en the Shepherd, might stray—
But no more of myself—Let each Dog of spirit
Stand forward and modestly state his own merit.
But I charge you be gentle, let's hear of no growling,
No grinning, no snarling, no snapping, no howling."
[Pg 4]The Greyhound first rose, with a spring from his seat,
Scarcely bending the grass, that grew under his feet;
His figure was airy, and placid his mien;
Yet to flash in his eye indignation was seen.—
"Brave companions," said he, "shall we noble beasts
Hear of Butterflies Balls and Grasshoppers Feasts?
Hear dinned in our ears, wherever we roam,
The Mask seeing Lion and Peacock at Home?
Shall we hear all this, nor assert the fair fame
That for ages long past has distinguished our name?—
Forbid it ye Dogs!—here behold me stand forth,
To proclaim to the world my deserts, and my worth!—
Keen and swift in the chace, I can boldly declare
From my speed, as I follow, in vain flies the Hare;
Nay, while like the wind, I bound over the course
My master comes l
The President Sheep Dog thus rose to explain.—
"This meeting I call, to complain of misusage
From the poets, who now a days have a strange usage
Of leading up Insects and Birds to Parnassus,
While, without rhyme or reason, unnotic'd they pass us.—
Declare then those talents by which we may claim
Some pretensions, I hope, to poetical fame.—
I boast of whole legions, my voice who obey;
Without me the Sheep, e'en the Shepherd, might stray—
But no more of myself—Let each Dog of spirit
Stand forward and modestly state his own merit.
But I charge you be gentle, let's hear of no growling,
No grinning, no snarling, no snapping, no howling."
[Pg 4]The Greyhound first rose, with a spring from his seat,
Scarcely bending the grass, that grew under his feet;
His figure was airy, and placid his mien;
Yet to flash in his eye indignation was seen.—
"Brave companions," said he, "shall we noble beasts
Hear of Butterflies Balls and Grasshoppers Feasts?
Hear dinned in our ears, wherever we roam,
The Mask seeing Lion and Peacock at Home?
Shall we hear all this, nor assert the fair fame
That for ages long past has distinguished our name?—
Forbid it ye Dogs!—here behold me stand forth,
To proclaim to the world my deserts, and my worth!—
Keen and swift in the chace, I can boldly declare
From my speed, as I follow, in vain flies the Hare;
Nay, while like the wind, I bound over the course
My master comes l
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