（外文电子版资料）Swift, Johnathan - Beasts Confession.pdf

The Beasts Confession Jonathan Swift The Beasts Confession Table of Contents The Beasts Confession1 Jonathan Swift1 i The Beasts Confession Jonathan Swift This page copyright © 2001 Blackmask Online. WHEN beasts could speak (the learned say They still can do so every day), It seems, they had religion then, As much as now we find in men. It happened when a plague broke out (Which therefore made them more devout) The king of brutes (to make it plain, Of quadrupeds I only mean), By proclamation gave command, That every subject in the land Should to the priest confess their sins; And thus the pious wolf begins: Good father, I must own with shame, That, often I have been to blame: I must confess, on Friday last, Wretch that I was, I broke my fast: But I defy the basest tongue To prove I did my neighbour wrong; Or ever went to seek my food By rapine, theft, or thirst of blood. The ass approaching next, confessed, That in his heart he loved a jest: A wag he was, he needs must own, And could not let a dunce alone: Sometimes his friend he would not spare, And might perhaps be too severe: But yet, the worst that could be said, He was a wit both born and bred; And, if it be a sin or shame, Nature alone must bear the blame: One fault he hath, is sorry fort, His ears are half a foot too short; Which could he to the standard bring, Hed show his face before the king: Then, for his voice, theres none disputes That hes the nightingale of brutes. The Beasts Confession