Generous, bold, and free from care,
For he feared nothing,—how could he?
"My friend," he said, "you're quitting me;
And people tell me to watch keenly.—
You are too worthy: so serenely
No poisoner ever looks, I know;
So no more on that tack we'll go.
But for these patrons you have found,
Hear me,—to tell a tale I'm bound.
To wrong you I have no intent,
With reasoning, or with argument.
"Once a poor shepherd used to keep
A dog, to guard his silly sheep;