ODE; TO A FAT SHEEP.

Auckland Star, Volume II, Issue 554, 19 October 1871, Page 2

ODE; TO A FAT SHEEP.

Fat friend of human race, Whose pale and patient face, And eye that yellows, Tell of all hope forlorn For thee so rudely torn Far from thy fellows ; Think not thy fate too hard, Tho' lean may be thy bard, "What doth it matter To thee who give thy life, Under the fatal knife, To make him fatter ? I would not have thee[die ; .Rather, for ever lie In pastures deep, Nibbling the tender grass ; And yet, and yet, alas ! Fattest of sheep, Fain would I hear thee fry, _Ynd themghts of mutton pie Steal gently o'er me. Thou'rt lovely in thy fleece, Yet lovelier in nhy grease, " All hot" bo tore me. Cruel, I know, the shock— _so more to lead the flock, -Y. proud bell-wether— No more beneath the trees To 101 l and lie at ease, j .In camp together; But think, o I think, fat friend— Life had a nobler end Than that of glutton, To e.it and drink; and drink and cat; And thine- Oh ! still that plaintive bleatIs glorious mutton. Mutton the choice, the prime ; Then think it not a criu_e To take thy life. 'lis fame, fat friend, 'tis fame ; •'• ■' '' Nor is there more to blame -. . _ -, •-; In butcher's knife Than iv the battle's rain, ,: When prone upon the plain The hero drops ; " Glory" his wreath divine, r : ;.. But what is that to thine— Immortal "chops I" Thou might'st have died a lamb, Owed to mint sauce and ham .' ; One half thy flavour :• Or as an old-toothed ram, Learned to thy cost what sham Is fair one's favour ; But thine the happier lot, To meet, all smoking hot, An unctuous end, While round thee fragrance rare Both to the world declare Thy worth, fat friend. Then far and wide shall spread Thy fame, the honoured dead Who died for duty. Like him who bravely fought Contented fell, nor thought Of home and beauty ; So die, and dying feel Nor venison nor veal Is worth a button To him whom Fates decree To dins, fat friend, on thee, O! matchless mutton !