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Anne Kingsmill Finch - The Man And His Horse
Work rating: Low

Within a Meadow, on the way, 
A sordid Churl resolv`d to stay, 
    And give his Horse a Bite; 
Purloining so his Neighbours Hay, 
That at the Inn he might not pay 
    For Forage all the Night. 

With Heart`s content th` unloaded Steed 
Began to neigh, and frisk, and feed; 
    For nothing more he car`d, 
Since none of all his Master`s breed 
E`er found such Pasture, at their need, 
    Or half so well had far`d. 

When, in the turning of a Hand, 
Out comes the Owner of the Land, 
    And do`s the Trespass eye; 
Which puts poor Bayard to a Stand, 
For now his Master do`s command 
    Him to return and fly. 

But Hunger quick`ning up his Wit, 
And Grass being sweeter than the Bit, 
    He to the Clown reply`d; 
Shall I for you this Dinner quit, 
Who to my Back hard Burdens fit, 
    And to the Death wou`d ride? 

No; shou`d I as a Stray be found, 
And seiz`d upon forbidden Ground, 
    I`ll on this Spot stand still; 
For tho` new Riders shou`d abound, 
(Or did Mankind this Field surround) 
    They cou`d but use me ill. 

Urge no Man to despair; lest in the Fit 
He with some Counterblow thy Head may hit.
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