Fatten you may, but never tame the beast;

A house protects him, savoury viands sustain;

But loose his neck and off he goes again:

So stole our vagrant from his warm retreat,

To rove a prowler and be deem'd a cheat.

Hard was his fare; for, him at length we saw,

570

In cart convey'd and laid supine on straw.

His feeble voice now spoke a sinking heart;

His groans now told the motions of the cart;