Crescenzio, the Pope's Legate at the High Council, Trent,

—Year Fifteen hundred twenty-two, March Twenty-five—intent

On writing letters to the Pope till late into the night,

Rose, weary, to refresh himself, and saw a monstrous sight:

(I give mine Author's very words: he penned, I reindite.)

A black Dog of vast bigness, eyes flaming, ears that hung

Down to the very ground almost, into the chamber sprung

And made directly for him, and laid himself right under

The table where Crescenzio wrote—who called in fear and wonder

His servants in the ante-room, commanded every one