Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1856-03-21

aHe VI SelutrN kiofN ullcu
During this lions memorable reign,
When tecming plenty filed his wide domain,
Ii CHANGED, as keepers OF the royal fold,
Wolves, in disguise, mixed with msstiHs bold.
tnfaithiul to their trust they fed on mutton;
And each fresh streak of Tat their ribs which got OF
Made them more bold his honship to brave
Nor would longer be his beastships slave.
Their guilt discovered Leos eyes flashed with 6re.
Brstled his name. aud lashei his tail with ire.
His long, horrisonant, redoubing roar,
The fvrcs, wakened-echoed irom the shore.
Tue guilty pack determined to disgrace.
Aud make them quick disgorgc the spoils Of place,
Straishtway each beast he summons from his lair,
\ court to holi-the Jackal in the chair.
4 Terrier-cre this unknown to fame
Not even lit to hunt for nobler game
Than mice, starved weases, and rspacious rats;
Whose bravest deeds were skirmshes with cats
Waspish and wire-haircd, whose daily ration
His keen nose sough, of fowl evisceration;~
Asserting kindred ties twixt dogs and wolves,
The culprits vindcation bold resolves.
His whiting bark 10 Leos roar Eephes,
Like mouse's squeak in laundering autumn skies.
DE hercely bristles up his little back,
Aud forward springs the Jackal to attack.
Tool OF tyrant paltry, mean, and'basel
How dare you look honest dog in face
"Wov Is what they take in chase do boldly eat
While you eat scraps OF Lsos broken meat"
what noise is thaty says Leo,-in the courts
Turn out that little cur! He'll spoil the sport
DO justice quick upon this ravenous crew
"Or, by my faith Ill hang up some ofyou."
Short shriit-6uef sentence, soon the trial ended
The wolves, like acorus, hang from oaks suspended
To honest mastifs, of the purest stock,
l. then consigned the keeping of the hOck.
Back to his kennel Pepper sneaks again,
Compelled his wrath TO swallow down amain.
Times wheel rolls on. Old Leo's dead ang gone
Aud, strange to say the Jackall mount. tn. throne
The willy Pepper from his kennel cr4wls-
With caution sreeps into the Jackalrs hals
That silly fool admits his ready claim
That dogs and Jackalls differ but in name
By what smooth arts he managed to efface
His former insults to the JackAll's face,
The Muse knows nOt-no one but Pepper knows;
Aud lie don't tell the half Of what he does
Suffice to say, he soon in honor rose
And, as a chosen envoy, forth he goes,
With spotted Leopards and with Tigers cruel,
To help eOneoct some diplomatic Cruel
Their herer natures kept his devil down,
And friends are pleased 10 see him Inider grown.
But ouisides good oft hide false intent;
And leopards craft and tigers wrath are blent
With all the meanness Of the common cur
la Peppers character-or do err.
These foreign vices grated on his own,
Pepper returns TO seek another bone
Old Leo's brood had grown degenerate;
Nor age, nor station did they venerate.
No of justice moderates their lust
They plumber every post Of power aud trust
Not, as OF yore puisues each one his game
They hunt in packs-like dogs OF paltry name.
But stil they boast themselves Of Leo's line
Though gone each trait esteemed as leonine
Seeing this likeness 10 the common cur,
That lions might be dogs, despite their fur,
The converse proposition Pepper secs
\ dog might be lion, if he please
StraightWay he mingles with the hunting pack,
Erects his tail and reaches up his back
Strikes deep his fangs in every hunted beast,
And passes Tor a lion with the rest.
His active rage is greeted with applause;
And soon, as in contempt OF natures laws,
The baser portion OF the lion race
Pepper accept as leader in the chase
From him receive their dole of crusts aud bones,
And seek his favor in the humblest tones.
lie opes his mouth-thcy listen with delight.
He snarles or frowns-they backward shrink in fright
NIy
And now poor Pepper i himself deceived,
Seeing counterfeit so well received,
Despite his preference for filth aud garbage
Nor ike lion more than chalk like cabbage,
Insists Ice is lion, good aud true;
Was ever such-and will De- too
Oh ! Currish vanity Oh! Besiial folly
Now Truth is dead Ny muse is melancholy.