Classic Poem

A boar who had enjoy'd a happy reign
For many a year, and fed on many a man,
Call'd to account, soft'ning his savage eyes,
Thus, suppliant, pleads his cause before he dies.
" For what am I condemn'd? My crime's no more
" To eat a man than yours to eat a Boar.
" We seek not you, but take what chance provides,
" Nature and mere necessity our guides.
" You murder us in sport, the dish us up
" For drunken seasts, a relish for the cup.
" We lengthen not our meals; but you must feast,
" Gorge till your bellies burst — Pray, who's the beast?
" With your humanity you keep a fuss,
" But are in truth worse brutes than all of us.
" We prey not on our kind, but you, dear Brother!
" Most beastly of all beasts, devour each other.
" Kings worry kings, neighbour with neighbour strives,
" Fathers and sons, friends, brothers, husbands, wives,
" By fraud or force, by poison, sword, or gun,
" Destroy each other, ev'ry mother's son. "