And this the cautious rogues began to feel:

“Thus will he ever bark,” in peevish tone

An elder cried - “the cur must have a bone.”

They then began to hint, and to begin

Was all they needed - it was felt within:

In terms less veil’d an offer then was made;

Though distant still, it fail’d not to persuade:

More plainly then was every point proposed,

Approved, accepted, and the bargain closed.

The exulting paupers hail’d their Friend’s success,