Page:Spouter's companion.pdf/17

17 Just as thothe [sic] ass was passing by, pad, pad,

Cried, "O! that lazy looby of a lad,

How unconcernedly the gaping brute

Lets the poor aged fellow walk a-foot."

Down came the son, on hearing this account,

And begg'd, and pray'd, and made his father mount;

Till a third party on a farther stretch,

"See! see!" exclaim'd, "that old hard-hearted wretch!

How like a justice there he sits, or squire,

WhiloWhile [sic] the poor lad keeps wading through the mire."

"Stop," cried the lad, still deeper vex'd in mind,

"Stop, father, stop, let me get on behind;"

This done, they thought they certainly should

please, escape reproaches, and be both at ease;

For having tried each practicable way,

What could be left for jokers now to say?

Still disappointed by succeeding tone;

"Hark ye, you fellow, is that ass your own?

Get off, for shame, or one of you at least;

You both deserve to carry the poor beast,

Ready to drop down upon the road

With such a huge, unconscionable load.

On this they both dismounted, and, some say,

Contriv'd to carry, the remaining way,

The ass between 'em; prints are seen, they add.

The ass supported by the man and lad;

Others omit that fancy in the print,

As overstraining an ingenious hint.