Then pauses ere he starts—but Dick 45
Was mischief bent upon a trick;
Down on his hands and knees he lay-
Directly in the Blind-man's way,
Then cries out 'Hem!' Hodge heard, and ran
With hood-wink'd chance—sure of his man; 50
But down he came.—Alas, how frail
Our best of hopes, how soon they fail!
With crimson drops he stains the ground;
Confusion startles all around.
Poor piteous Dick supports his head, 55
And fain would cure the hurt he made;
But Kitty hasted with a key,
And down his back they strait convey
The cold relief; the blood is stay'd.
And Hodge again holds up his head. 60
Such are the fortunes of the game,
And those who play should stop the same
By wholesome laws; such as all those
Who on the blinded man impose
Stand in his stead; as, long a-gone, 65
When men were first a nation grown,
Lawless they liv'd, till wantonness
And liberty began t' increase,
And one man lay in another's way;
Then laws were made to keep fair play. 70
57 hasted] hastens DGR.65 as] So DGR.
