MY weary Carcase being sorely oppressed by the ma­lice of Catchpoles, I laid me down to sleep, setting my Fancy Sentinel, who walking the Rounds of my Mind, in an instant conveyed me into a migh­ty Forrest, tenanted with Beasts of prey; the first that pre­sented it self to my view was a Crocodile preying upon a Lamb, and having eat his Body, he distilled tears over his Head, as if he was grieved to be his Executioner, who had deserved it by encroaching upon his Territories. But I saw this was but as sour Sauce to whet his glutted Appetite, for after it with more eagerness than ever he devoured the rest; then I thought that my self must next be sacrificed to his Lust: But these Jealousies were extinguished by a hideous noise which I heard, then looking about me I saw a great number of savage Beasts, viz. The Panther (which by his sub­tilty tyranniz'd over others) going first, his Skin was of a lovely Colour, and curious to behold, but his Head was de­formed, and dyed in Blood; then followed twelve Lyons of Cleonia roaring, with an innumerable Company of Dragons, Tygers, Leoperds, Bears, Wolves, and Camelions, all likewise with their Mouths dyed in Blood; thus they marched, till at last they came to a pleasant Island surrounded with a Crystal Ri­ver, into which my Fancy led me, and I beheld it abound­ing with Flocks of Sheep, and Parks of stately Deer, Nature having constituted a War-like Hart for the Defender, whose endeavours were continually to preserve the Sheep from the Beasts of the Forrest. But methoughts the Panther did en­deavour by allurements to entice the Hart to behold his beau­tiful Skin, thereby to make him his Prey. But the Hart dis­covering his intrigue, which the Panther perceiving, with all his Retinue enter'd the River, furiously assaulting the Hart, but the Hart behaving himself courageously caused them with shame to flee to the Forrest for shelter. Nevertheless present­ly I saw a Dragon hasting to the Island to destroy the Sheep, [Page]but was happily prevented by a Fawn, then the Dragon with anguish gnashing, cast forth fire and fired the Sheepfold, in­somuch that the Sheep scarce escap'd with the Wool on their backs, and then he hasted to the Forrest for his escape. But not long after came over a Beare, and some Wolves, who kill'd one of the best Sheep in the Flock, and grievou­sly tore many others, which with patience they endured; but their silence was a motive to the Fawn; for he valiantly encountred and slew them, by which he incurred the great displeasure of a Stag; which having ranged the Forrest, had no small kindness for the Panther; therefore the Stag chased him out of the Island, and caused him to cross the River; but not being safe there, he returned and lived se­curely amongst the Flock. A little Evet also did endeavour to enfatuate the Brook where the Hart used to drink, but two Rams laid hold of him, and had stain him, had not a Deer coming in to help them, made them let go their hold; in process of time, methought the Hart dyed, and violent­ly came in the Beasts of the Forrest, with whom the wild Deers joyned, and devoured the Sheep: But the Fawn, with some of the choicest in the Flock fled, and were miraculou­sly preserved. But the Beasts of the Forrest not willing to lose such a prey as were the Deers, slew them also; and they being thus exalted with their fat pasture, had continu­al jarrings among themselves, till at length, they beginning to devour each other, then methought the Fawn with his Sheep returned again into their banished Island, valiantly, and triumphantly extirpating them, and flourished more than ever. So I Awoke.