The Poet’s Dog.
The manner in which Pope, the great English poet, was preserved by the sagacity of his dog, is truly remarkable. This animal, who was called Marquis, could never agree with a favorite servant of his master’s; he constantly growled when near him, and would even show his teeth whenever this servant approached. Although the poet was singularly attached to this dog,—who was a spaniel of the largest species,—yet, on account of his extreme neatness, which he pushed almost to excess, he would never allow him to remain in his chamber. Nevertheless, in spite of positive orders, the spaniel would frequently sneak, towards evening, into the apartment of his master, and would not be driven from it without the greatest difficulty.
One evening, having slipped very softly in without being perceived, the animal placed himself under the bed of his master, and remained there. Towards morning, the servant rushed hastily into the chamber of Pope. At this moment, the dog suddenly left his post and leaped on the villain, who was armed with a pistol. The poet started from his sleep; he threw open the window to call for assistance, and beheld three highwaymen, who had been introduced by his servant into the garden of his villa, for the purpose of robbing him. Disconcerted by this unforeseen accident, the robbers hesitated a moment, and then took flight. The servant, thus betrayed by the watchful dog, was sentenced to forfeit his life.
The same dog, shortly after this singular event, exhibited another proof of his remarkable instinct. Pope, reposing one afternoon in a little wood about twelve miles distant from his house, lost a watch of great value. On returning home, the poet wished to know the hour, and found his watch was not in his fob. Two or three hours had elapsed, and a violent storm was just commencing.
The poet called his dog, and making a sign, which Marquis very well understood, he said, “I have lost my watch—go look for it.” At these words Marquis departed, and repaired, no doubt, to every spot at which his master stopped. It happened that the poor animal was so long occupied in the search as to create great anxiety, for midnight had arrived, and he had not returned. What was the astonishment of Pope, when, on rising in the morning, he opened his chamber door, and there beheld his faithful messenger lying quietly and holding in his mouth the splendid jewel, with which he had returned perfectly uninjured, and which was the more highly valued by the poet, as it had been presented to him by the queen of England.