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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." 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 lagging behind on his Horse. 'Twixt friends, I could laugh, at beholding the fuss And boasting men make of success due to us; The truth is so obvious 'tis scarce worth enforcing; Without our assistance they could not go coursing."