My charming Rogue, I would not hurt ye. She answers not, but drops a Courtsie. He's rude, and she's asham'd to squeak; Her Father sees it, dares not speak; But patiently enduring all, Stands like a Statue in the Hall. Now for the Garden and the Hare, The Dogs get in, and scrape and tear, The Horsemen follow, leap the Rails; Down goes the Quick-set-hedge, and Pales. The Huntsman hollows, runs and pushes, All goes to Rack, the Borders, Bushes. And now my Landlord cries amain, You've ruin'd me; but all in vain. The Cabbages are kick'd about, And Flowers with Roots and all pull'd out. The Beds are levell'd with the Ground, At last poor trembling Puss is found Hid underneath a Collyflower. The Prey is took, away they scower, And leave our Countryman to think On all his Loss of Meat and Drink: What havock's made in ev'ry place, His Daughter wrong'd before his Face. Small was the Mischief of the Hare To ravenous Hunters to compare. He wrings his Hands, and all in Tears Repents his foolish rashness, swears, He'll ne'er call help again in haste, Since Hounds and Horses made more waste, In half an hour, than all the Hares Of th' Country could in Seven Years. The Moral. _When petty Princes can't agree, And strive for Superiority, They often take my Landlord's Course, Invite for Aid a foreign Force; And when their Subjects Slaves are made, Their Countries all in ruins laid, As commonly it proves their fate, Repent with him when it's too late._ _The Plague among the Beasts._