Social Commentaries
I.23 The Faithful House-Dog
Translated by Christopher Smart (1887 printing) · From Fables, Book I
A Man that's gen'rous all at once
May dupe a novice or a dunce;
But to no purpose are the snares
He for the knowing ones prepares.
When late at night a felon tried
To bribe a Dog with food, he cried,
"What ho! do you attempt to stop
The mouth of him that guards the shop?
You 're mightily mistaken, sir,
For this strange kindness is a spur,
To make me double all my din,
Lest such a scoundrel should come in."
Cite this poem
MLA
Phaedrus. “I.23 The Faithful House-Dog.” Translated by Christopher Smart. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/phaedrus/22/.
Chicago
Phaedrus. “I.23 The Faithful House-Dog.” Translated by Christopher Smart. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/phaedrus/22/.
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