A dog growing thinner, for want of a dinner,

Once purloined him a joint from a tray,

"How happy I am, with this shoulder of lamb,"

Thought the cur as he trotted away.

But the way that he took, lay just over a brook,

Which he found it was needful to cross;

So without more ado, he plunged in to go through,

Not dreaming of danger or loss.

But what should appear, in this rivulet clear,

As he thought upon coolest reflection,