Hear, and relent! hark how thy children moan; The honest number that you left behind. See how they pat thee with their pretty paws: 15 Why start you? are they snakes? or have they claws? Thy Christian seed, our mutual flesh and bone: Be kind at least to these, they are thy own. Biddel, like thee, might farthest India rove; He changed his country, but retain'd his love. Not touch me! Never neighbour call'd me slut: Say, by what witchcraft, or what demon led, Some say the devil himself is in that mare: If so, our dean shall drive him forth by prayer. Some think you mad, some think you are possess'd; That straw, that straw, would heighten the disease. "Where sleeps my Gulliver? O tell me where!" Others bring goods and treasure to their houses, The groom and sorrel mare preferr'd to me! These for some moments when you deign to quit, And (at due distance) sweet discourse admit, When in the marrow-bone I see thee ramm'd; And all thy dangers I weep o'er again. O teach me, dear, new words to speak my flame! Or Glumglum's humbler title soothe thy ear: To hymn harmonious Houyhnhnm through the nose, I'd call thee Houyhnhnm, that high-sounding name; 110 VOL. IV. POETRY. THE END OF VOL. IV. L L |