"THOU CALLEST ME A DOG, MY FRIEND
AND WOULD THAT I SHOULD TAKE THIS
AS AN INSULT? AH, BUT NAY, THAT IS
A SAD MISTAKE!
LOOK THEE UPON THY FELLOW MAN
AND SPEAK IF THOU SHOULD FIND
A TRUSTY FRIEND MORE FAITHFUL,
MORE TOLERANT, OR KIND.
ONE WHO WOULD LIE UPON THY FEET
AND RISE UPON THY WISH.
AND IN RETURN EXPECTING NOUGHT
SAVE FOOD, UPON HIS DISH.
AYE, MAN, FOR ALL HIS FOOLISH GREED
WOULD LEND A HELPING HAND
BUT BE THY NEED TOO COSTLY
HIS LOVE MAY SINK, LIKE SAND.
SHOULD I BECOME SO BLIND, OR DEAF
AND AM, INDEED, IN NEED
GIVE A FRIEND WHO CANNOT SPEAK
AND LET ME HOLD HIS LEAD".
