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Literary
August 12, 1775
The Virginia Gazette
Richmond, Williamsburg, Richmond County, Virginia
What is this article about?
A former lawyer, now a soldier, submits a verse tale to Messrs. Dixon & Hunter for their Poets Corner, comparing it to a prior liberty song. The tale depicts a blind man who quarrels with and kills his faithful guide dog for perceived vices, only to regret it when left helpless without its aid. Signed K.W., August 5, 1775.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
POETS CORNER.
To Messrs. Dixon & Hunter.
GENTLEMEN,
Having laid down the habit of a lawyer (to which I was bred) and taken up that of a soldier (a much more honourable one, I am told) and my new profession affording much more leisure than my old, I have sent you the following TALE for your publication. I hope you will think it à propos at this juncture, and at least as good in its kind as the liberty song which some time ago found its way into your Poets Corner.
The BLIND MAN and his DOG: A TALE.
A BLIND man quarrell'd with his guide:
"Curse on this scoundrel cur," he cry'd;
"My fate, indeed, is truly hard,
Thus to be subject to thy guard,
For ever leading me astray,
And running always in my way;
Never content, though belly full,
And always hankering after trull:
Should one appear, quick o'er the grounds
Away we run, like coupled hounds.
O! how I hate thee, from my soul;
Of vices what a muster roll
Is thine! Whore-master, glutton, thief,
Ungrateful, surly,—nay, in brief,
Thou answer'st every vice's call,
Thou errant sample of them all.
Oh! villain, villain, though I'm blind,
The way to be reveng'd I'll find."
"Dear Sir, be not in such a passion,
Consider ere you lay the lash on,
(Replied the cur) pray recollect,
Point out each error and neglect:
Have I not served you soon and late,
From puppy up to dog's estate?
How many toils I undergo
When I conduct you to and fro!
But all those toils, though hard, seem'd slight
While friendship made my burthen light.
Though you're resolv'd your slave to kill,
Alas! I feel I love you still.
Ah! Master! think on what you're doing;
With mine you bring on your own ruin:
Some faults I have there is no doubt,
And so have you; pray who's without?"
"How quoth the vagrant, preach to me
Thy common-place morality?
What art thou wretch, and what am I?
I faults like you! You dog you lie.
No, no, I never will compound,"
He said, and fell'd him to the ground.
And now, without his faithful guide,
He gropes his way from side to side;
Till, tumbling on, with many a fall,
He knocks his head against a wall.
K.W., August 5, 1775.
To Messrs. Dixon & Hunter.
GENTLEMEN,
Having laid down the habit of a lawyer (to which I was bred) and taken up that of a soldier (a much more honourable one, I am told) and my new profession affording much more leisure than my old, I have sent you the following TALE for your publication. I hope you will think it à propos at this juncture, and at least as good in its kind as the liberty song which some time ago found its way into your Poets Corner.
The BLIND MAN and his DOG: A TALE.
A BLIND man quarrell'd with his guide:
"Curse on this scoundrel cur," he cry'd;
"My fate, indeed, is truly hard,
Thus to be subject to thy guard,
For ever leading me astray,
And running always in my way;
Never content, though belly full,
And always hankering after trull:
Should one appear, quick o'er the grounds
Away we run, like coupled hounds.
O! how I hate thee, from my soul;
Of vices what a muster roll
Is thine! Whore-master, glutton, thief,
Ungrateful, surly,—nay, in brief,
Thou answer'st every vice's call,
Thou errant sample of them all.
Oh! villain, villain, though I'm blind,
The way to be reveng'd I'll find."
"Dear Sir, be not in such a passion,
Consider ere you lay the lash on,
(Replied the cur) pray recollect,
Point out each error and neglect:
Have I not served you soon and late,
From puppy up to dog's estate?
How many toils I undergo
When I conduct you to and fro!
But all those toils, though hard, seem'd slight
While friendship made my burthen light.
Though you're resolv'd your slave to kill,
Alas! I feel I love you still.
Ah! Master! think on what you're doing;
With mine you bring on your own ruin:
Some faults I have there is no doubt,
And so have you; pray who's without?"
"How quoth the vagrant, preach to me
Thy common-place morality?
What art thou wretch, and what am I?
I faults like you! You dog you lie.
No, no, I never will compound,"
He said, and fell'd him to the ground.
And now, without his faithful guide,
He gropes his way from side to side;
Till, tumbling on, with many a fall,
He knocks his head against a wall.
K.W., August 5, 1775.
What sub-type of article is it?
Fable
Poem
Dialogue
What themes does it cover?
Moral Virtue
Friendship
What keywords are associated?
Blind Man
Guide Dog
Ingratitude
Moral Tale
Loyalty
Fable
Satire
What entities or persons were involved?
K.W., August 5, 1775.
Literary Details
Title
The Blind Man And His Dog: A Tale.
Author
K.W., August 5, 1775.
Key Lines
A Blind Man Quarrell'd With His Guide:
"Curse On This Scoundrel Cur," He Cry'd;
"My Fate, Indeed, Is Truly Hard,
Thus To Be Subject To Thy Guard,
"Dear Sir, Be Not In Such A Passion,
Consider Ere You Lay The Lash On,
(Replied The Cur) Pray Recollect,
Point Out Each Error And Neglect:
Though You're Resolv'd Your Slave To Kill,
Alas! I Feel I Love You Still.
Ah! Master! Think On What You're Doing;
With Mine You Bring On Your Own Ruin:
He Said, And Fell'd Him To The Ground.
And Now, Without His Faithful Guide,
He Gropes His Way From Side To Side;
Till, Tumbling On, With Many A Fall,
He Knocks His Head Against A Wall.