Could not resist their hellish mimicry;
But felt content, as ’twere, to avoid the strife—
Which in their direful hearts was plainly rife),
Most thankful that the villains spared his life.
One of the brigands made all progress vain,
Another counted o’er the ravish’d gain,
The others in the rear ransack’d the cart,
Then, all uniting, off the ruffians start;
But dreamt not justice was so near at hand—
When at its bar each vagabond would stand