CXXIX.
But now was aim'd the final blow,
Her happiness to overthrow!
Now came the bitter poison’d dart,
To wound and rankle in her heart !

: cxxx. Ther- Doveling she had reard, Whose innocence her woes had cheer'd, With painted, keen, heart-galling slight, That Doveling was denied her sight.

Some say the Elder Hen, past doubt,
Contriv'd to bring this plot about;.
If so it were, if such the fact,
Confound the vile unnat'ral act!

CXXXII,
Who would believe that any she
Would counsel such an injury
Accurs’d, at fond Affection's shrine?
Unfeeling, harsh, unfeminine !

cxxxIII. Sometimes the very meekest creature Will turn to one of fiercer nature, When rogs'd, by cruel hand infernal, To sense of injury maternal,

Depriv'd of her illustrious friend,
She found protection at an end;
And Insult rose, with sternest b
To frown upon her victim now

-, so sly, vusly; le and weak, v most loudly speak..

CXLI. ver first, with due respect, ne sent to him who should protect, And not expose her thus to scórn, After what she had firmly borne.

. CXLII. . For answer (what could it betoken ?) Her letter came with seal unbroken! Again she sent it, and once more It came back to her as before!

CXLIII. She tried again, she tried in vain, Nor satisfaction could obtain;At length the Chicken did confess, Her wrongs he meant not to redress.

CXXXỊV. i .
The Cow, new-risen from the lair,
Whose breath perfumes the morning air, .
Behold with gentle patience stand,
And yield her to the milk-maid's hand!

cxxxv.
Freely she gives the fragrant store,
To those who, when she can no more,
Will whet the knife, will shed her blood,
And seize upon her flesh for food. ...

.. CXXXVI.:
But let them seize her darling young,
To anger, to revenge, she's strung;
And, of maternal feeling full,.:
She's fiercer than the foaming bull. ..,

. CXXXVII.
So with our Dove; long time had slept
The secret, most profoundly kept,
(With many a lock and many a seal)
That time was destin'd to reveal.

cXXXVIII. With innate modesty and pride, (Her honor duly satisfied,) She sought not to proclaim her wrong, Nor give her injuries a tongue." ''

CXXXIX. ... But now by secret foes enthrall’d, .:. By every tie of duty call’d

T'assert a mother's just pretence * And vindicate her innocence,

.• Which this last stroke, so cool, so sly,

Would injure most insidiously;
She had been culpable and weak,
Did she not now most loudly speak.

..

CXLI.
A letter first, with due respect,
She sent to him who should protect
And not expose her thus to scorn,
After what she had firmly borne.

CXLII. . .
For answer (what could it betoken?)
Her letter came with seal unbroken!
Again she sent it, and once more i
It came back to her as before!

CXLIII.
She tried again, she tried in vain,
Nor satisfaction could obtain;
At length the Chicken did confess,
Her wrongs he meant not to redress.