Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE GOOD DOG OF BRETTE, by ANONYMOUS


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE GOOD DOG OF BRETTE, by                    
First Line: "should you ever go to brette, be sure you don't fail"
Last Line: He fares -- the poor man! -- like the poodle of brette!
Subject(s): Animals;dogs


I.

SHOULD you e'er go to Brette, be sure you don't fail
To look at the dog on the old city gate;
A poodle in marble, with never a tail
Save the piteous one which the people relate
Of a dog who was wont, in the cleverest way,
To carry a basket whereon you might find,
In capital letters as plain as the day,
This plaintive petition, "Remember the Blind!"

II.

And thus through the city he went, it is said,
Soliciting food that his owner might live;
And never himself, till his master was fed,
Touched a morsel of aught that the people might give;
Such a good little dog, of such talents possessed,
In Brette, be sure, had an excellent name;
And every one hastened to honor his quest,
And treat him with kindness, wher ever he came.

III.

But once, on a Friday ('t is ever, they say,
A day when misfortune is aptest to fall),
As the dog went his round, in the usual way,
He came to a butcher who mocked at his call:
"What! flesh on a fast day! -- you heathenish cur!
Egad! you shall have it! -- a nice bit of meat!"
And, cutting his tail off, cried, "Off with you, sir!
Take that, if you please, for your master to eat!"

IV.

He went to his home, and his basket set down;
So stricken with grief, and so hurt in his pride,
That he never again showed his face in the town,
But, moaning in misery, sickened and died.
And all through the city the story was told
Of the beggar lamenting the loss of his mate;
And all through the city the young and the old --
Men, women, and children -- lamented his fate.

V.

And now you may see, on the old city gate,
His effigy standing in marble today;
Whereof the good people to strangers relate
The piteous story I've told in my lay;
And the origin, hence, you will readily learn
Of the saying, repeated in country and city,
When kindness receives an ungrateful return,
"He fares -- the poor man! -- like the poodle of Brette!"





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