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WOowndes. J.ScatdierdJK:?G.*T.Wakie.&EJTeWbcrj'.
AIDCC^Cm.
t'
T O
HIS HIGHNESS
WILLIAM,
DUKE OF CUM BERLANJD,
THESIS
NEW FABLJES,
J/f VENTED FOR HJS AMUSEMENT^
ARE HUMBLY DEDICATED, BV
IfJS HJGHNESS's
MOST FAITHFUL, AND
MQST pBzpiXNT 8tJiyANT|
JOHN GAY.
■7 ->. T
& O. f S
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T " r » T r' ' ' ' < ■*
. \
^ LIFE
ft)
^ OF
I
M
I
J O H N G A Y.
JOHN GAY, defcended from an old family that
•^ had been long* in poffeflion of the manor of
* Goldworthy in Devonfliire, was born in i688,
at or near Barnftaple, where he was educated by
Mr. Luck, who taught the fchool of that town
with good reputation, and, a little before he retir*
ed from it, publiflied a volume of Latin and Englifii
verfes. Under fuch a mafter he was likely to form
a tafte for poetry. Being born without profpeft
of hereditary riches, he was fent to London in his
youth, and placed apprentice with a filk-mercer.
How long he continued behind the counter, or
with what degree of foftnefj and dexterity he re-
ceived and accommodated the Ladies, as be pro-*
♦ Goldworthy does not appear in the Villaie.
A a bably
IV LITE OF
bably took no delight in telling it». is not knowii.
The report is, that he was foon weary of either the
reflraint or fervility of his occupation, and eafily
perfuaded his matter to difcharge him.
The duchefs of Monmouth, remarkable for in-,
flexible perfeverance in her demand to be treated
as a princefs, in 1712, took Gay into her fervice
as fecretary : by quitting a fliop for fiich fervice,
he might gain leifure, but he certainly advanced
little ill the boaft of independence. Of his leifure
he, made fo good ufe, that he publifhed next year
a poem on Rural Sports, and infcribed it to Mr.
Pope, who was then riling faft into reputation^
Pope was pleafed with the honour ; and when he
became acquainted with Gay, found fuch attrac-
tions in his manners and converfation, that he
feems tq have received him into his inmoft confi-
dence ; and a friendlhip was formed between them
which lafted to their feparation by death, without
any known abatement on either part. Gay was
the general favourjte of the whole aflociation of
wits ; but they regarded him as a play -fellow rather
^han a partner, and treated him with more fondnefs
than refpeft.
Next year he publiftied The Shepherd's Wepk, fi3^
JEngliih Paftorals, in which the images are drawn
from real life, fuch as it appears among, the rufticks
in parts of England remote from London. Steele
in fome parts of his Guardian, had praifed Am-
brofe Philips, as the Paftoral write? that yielded
pnly
jOllN CAt. :Y
bnly to Theocritus3 Virgil, and Spenfef* Pope,
Who had alfo publiibed Pailorals, not pleafed to be
overlooked, drew up a comparifon of his own
compofitions with thofe of Philips, in which he
Covertly gave hinifelf the pfefefence^ while he
feemed to difown it. Not content with this, he is
fuppofed to have incited Gay to write the Shepherd's
Wuk^ to fliew, that if it be neceffary to copy na-
ture with minutenefs, rural life muft be exhibited-
fuch as groflhefjs atid ignorance have made it. So
far the plan was reafonable ; but the Paftorals are
introduced by a Procme, written with fuch imita*
tion as they could attain of obfolete language, and
by confequence in a ftyle that was never fpoken
Jior written in any age or in any place*
But the efiedl of reality ^nd truth became con-
fpicuous, even when the intention was to fliew
them groveling and degraded. Thefe Paftorals
became popular, and were read with delight, as
juft reprefentations of rural manners and occupa-
tions, by thofe who had no intereft in the rivalry
of the poets, nor knowledge of the critical difpute.
In 1713 he brought a comedy called The Wife of
Bath upon the ftage, but it received no applaufe ;
he printed it, however ; and feventeen years after^
having altered it, and, as he thought, adapted it
more to the publick tafte, he offered it again to the
town; but, though he was flufhed with the fuccefs
of the Beggar's Opera, had the mortification to fee
it again rejeded.
A 3 In
\
VI LIsE OF
In the lafl: year of queen Anne*s life, Gay was
made fecretary to the earl of Clarendon, ambaffai
dor to the court oi Hanover. This was a ftation
.that naturally gave him hopes of kindnefs from
every party ; but the Queen's death put an end to
her favours, and he had dedicated his Shpherd^s
Vicek to Bolingbroke, which Swift confidered as
the crime that obftrufted all kindnefs from the
houfe of Hanover.
He did not, however, omit to improve the right
which his office had given him to the notice of the
royal family. On the arrival of the princefs of
Wales, he wrote a poem, and obtained fo much
favour, that both the Prince and, Princefs went to
fee his What d*ye cull /7, a kind of mock-tragedy,
in which the images were comick, and the aftion
grave ; fo that, as Pope relates, Mr. Cromwell
who could not hear what was faid, was at a lofs
how to reconcile the laughter of the audience with
the folemnity of the ftene.
Of this performance the value certainly is but
little ; but it was one of the lucky trifles that give
pleafure by novdlty, and was fo much favoured by
the audience, that envy appeared againft it in the
form of criticifm ; and Griffin a player, in con-
junftion with Mr. Theobald, a man afterwards
more remarkable, produced a pamphlet called the
Key to the fVhat d'ye call it ; which, fays Gay, calls
me a blockhead^ and Mr. Pope a knave.
But
JOHM CAV* vil
But Fortune has always been ifkCoti&^nU Not
long, afterwards (1717) be endeavoured to entertain
the town with Three Hours after Marriage ; a 'Co-
medy : written, as there is fufficient re^lbn for be-
lieving, by the joint affiffance of Pope and Ar-
buthnot. One purpofe of it w^s to bring into con-
'tempt Dr. Woodward the Foffilift, amannotreally
or juftly contemptible. It had the fate which fuch
outrages deferve : the fcene in which Woodward
was dire£lly and apparently ridiculedj by the infro*
du6Uon of a mummy and a crocodile, difgufted
the audience, and the performance was driven off
the ftage with general condemnation;
Gay is reprefented as a man eafily incited to
hope, and deeply depreffed when his hopes were
difappointed. This is not the character of^a hero ;
but it may naturally imply fdmething more gene-
tally welcome, a foft and civil companion. Who-
ever is apt to hope good from bthers Is diligent to
pleafe them ; but he that believes his powers ftrong
enough to force their own way, commonly tries
only to pleafe himfelf.
* * ' *
He had been fimple Enough to imagine that thofe
•who laughed at the What d'ye call it would raife the
fortune of its author; and finding nothing done,
funk into dejeftion. His friends endeavoured to
divert him. The earl of Burlington fent him
(1716) into Devonlhire ; the year after, Mr. Pulte-
ney took him to Aix; and in the following year
lord Harcourt invited him to his feat, where, during
A 4 his
VUl : LlFt OF
his vifit?^ the ti¥0 rural lovers were killed with light-
ning, as is particularly told in Pope's Letters.
, Being now generally known, he piiblifhed (1720)
his Poems by fubfcription with fuch fuccefs, - that he
raife<) a thoufand pounds ; and called his friends to
a confultation, ^hat ufe might be beft made of it.
Lewis, the ftewat'd of lord Oxford, advifed him
to intruft it to the funds, and live upon the intereft;
Arbuthnot bad. bim intruft it to Providence, and
live upon the principal ; Pope direQed him, and
was feconded by Swift, to purchafe an annuity.
Gay in that d^aftrouH year * had a prefent from
young Craggs of; fom^ South-fea-ftock, and once
fuppofed himfelf to be mafter of twenty thoufand
pounds. His frie^nds perfuaded him to fell his
Jhare ; but he dreamed of dignity and fplendour.
and could not be^ to obftrud his own fortune^
He was then importuned to fell as much as would
purchafe an huilidred a year for life, which, fays
Fcnton, will make jou Jure of a clean Jhirt . and a
Jbouldcr of mutton every day ^ This counfel was re-
jefted; the profit and principal were loft, and Gsy
funk under the calamity fo low that his life became
in danger.
By the care of his friends^ among whom Pope
appears to have ihewn particular tendernefs, his
health was reftored, and, returning to his ftudies,
he wrote a tragedy called The Captives, which he
• Spence.
was
JOHN GAt. ik
was invited to read before the prineefs of Wales.
Ijrhen the haur came, he faw the princefs and her
ladie^^alt in exgeftation, and advancing with reve-
rence, too great for any other attention, ftumbled
at a ftool, and failing forwards, threw down a
weighty Japan fcreen. The princefs ftarted, the
ladies fcreamed, and poor Gay after all the difturb-*
ance was ft ill to read his play.
The fate of The Captives, which was a£led at
Drury-Lane in 1723, I know not; but he now
thought himfelf in favour, and undertook (1726)
to write a volume of Fables for the improvement
of the young duke of Cumberland. For this he
Is faid to have been promifed a reward, which he
■
had doubtlefs magnified with all the wild expe3a^
tions of indigence and vanity.
Next yelr the Prince and Princefs became King
and Queen, and Gay was to be great and happy j
but upon the fettlement of the houfehold he found
himfelf appointed gentleman u-ftfer to the princefs
Louifa. By this offer he thought himfelf infulted,
and fent a meflage to the Queen, that he was too
old for the place. There feem to have been many
machinations employed afterwards in his favour;
and diligent court was paid to Mrs. Howard, aft^r^
wards countefs of Suffolk, who was much beloved
by the King and Queen, to engage her intereft for
his promotion; but folicitations, verfes, and flat-*
teries were thrown away ; the lady heard them, and
did nothing.
An
I
LIFE OF
All the pain which he fufFered from the negleft,
or, as he perhaps termed it, the ingratitude of thp
court, may be fuppofed to have been driven away
by the unexampled fuccefs of the Beggar* s Opera.
This play, written in ridicule of the mufical Ita-
lian Drama, was firft offered to Gibber and his
brethren at Drury-Lane, and rejefted ; it being
then carried to Rich, had the effeft, as was ludU
croufly faid, of making Gay rich, and Ricfer gay.
Of this lucky piece, as the reader cannot but
wifh to know the original and progrefs, I have
inferted the relation which Spence has given in
Pope's words.
** Dr. Swift had been obferving once to Mr. Gay,
•* what an odd pretty fort of a thing a Newgate
•• Paftoral might make. Gay was inclined to try at
•* fuch a thing for fome time ; but afterwards.
" thought it would be better to write a comedy on
^ die fame plan. This was what gave rife to the
•' Beggar's Opera. He began on it; and when
•* firft he mentioned it to Swift, the DoQor did
•• not much like the projeft. As he carried it on,
«* he {hewed what he wrote to both of us,- and we
•* now-and-then gave a corre6lion, or a word or
** two of advice ; but it was wholly of his own
writing. — When it was done, neither of us
thought it would fucceed. — We fliqwed it to
Congreye ; who, after reading it over, faid, Jt
' " would either take greatly, or be damned con-
** foundedly. — We were all, at the firft night of it.
ۥ
CC
« in
JOHN GAY. ' :li
cc
fC
c<
€€
U
€€
€€
CC
in great uncertainty of the event ; till we were
very much encouraged by overhearing the duke
Argyle, who fat in the next box to us, fay, ** It
will do— ritmuft do ! I fee it in the eyes of them/
This was a :good while before the firft Aft was
over, and fo gave us eafe foon ; for that duke
(befides his own good tafte) has a particular
r
'* knack, as any one now living, in difcoverin^
** the tafte of the publick. He was quite right in
** thU, as ufual ; the good nature of the audience
appeared ftronger and ftronger every aft, and
ended in a clamour of applaufe."
Its reception is thus recorded in the notes to the
Dunciad :
This piece was received with greater applaufe
than was ever known* Befides being aSed ia
" London fixty-three days without interruption,
** and renewed the next feafon with equal applaufe
it fpread into all the great towns of England;
was played in many places to the thirtieth and
fortieth time ; at Bath and Briftol fifty, &c.
It made its progrefs into Wales, Scotland, and
Ireland, where it was performed twenty-four
days lucceffively. The ladies carried about with
^*' them the favourite fongs of it in fans, and houfes
** were furniQied with it in fcreens. The fame of
^* it was not confined to the author only; The
** perfon who aOied Polly, till then obfcure, be-
*^ came all at once the favourite of the town ; her
'* piQures were engraved, and fold in great num-
** bers.
<c
U
»
4t
*• bers ; her life written, books of letters and vef-
** fes to her publilhed, and pamphlets made even of*
•* her fayings and jefts. Furthermore, it drove
** out of England (for that feafon) the Italian
" Opera, which had Carried all before it for ten
•* years.'*
Of this performance, when it was printed, the
reception was different, according to the different
opinion of its readers. Swift commended it for
the excellence of its morality, as a piece that
placed all kinds of vice in tbejirongejl and moji odious
light; but others^ and among them Dr. Herrings
afterwards archbifhop of Canterbury, cenfured it
as giving encouragement not only to vice but to
crimes, by making a highwayman the hero, and
difmiffing him at laft unpuniflied. It has been even
faid, that after the exhibition of the Beggar's Opera
the gangs oF robbers were evidently multiplied.
Both thefe decifions are furely exaggerated.
The play, like many others, was plainly written
only to divert, without any moral purpofe, and is
therefore not likely to do good ; nor can it be
x:onceived, without more fpeculation than life re-
quires or admits, to be produftive of much evil*
Highwaymen and houfe-breakers feldom frequent
the playhoufe, or mingle in any elegant diverfion ;
nor is it poffible for any one to imagine that he
may rob with fafety, becaufe he fees^ Macheath
reprieved upon the ftage.
This
JOHN CAYr xlu
This objeftion however, or fome other rather
political than moral, obtained fuch prevalence^
that when Gay produced a fecond part under the
name of Polly, it was prohibited by the Lord
Chamberlain; and, he was forced to recompenfe
his repulfe by a fubfcription^ which is faid to have
been fo liberally beftowed, that what he called op-,
preflion ended in profit. The * publication was fo
much favoured, that though the firft part gained
him four hundred pounds, near thrice as much
was the profit of the fecond.
He received yet another recompenfe for thi$
fuppofed hardfliip, in the affeftiohate attention of
the duke and duchefs of Queenfberry, into whofe
houfe hC/ was taken, and with whom he paffed the
remaining part of his life. The ♦ duke, confider-
ing his want of oeconomy, undertook the manage-
ment of bis money, and gave it to him as he wanted
it. But it is fuppofed that the difcountenance of
the Court funk deep into his heart, and gave him
more difcontent than the applaufes or tendernefr
of his friends could overpower. He foon fell into
his old diftemper, an habitual colick, and languiflie^
though with many intervals of eafe and cheerfulnefs,
till a violent fit at laft feized him, and hurried him
to the grave, as Arbuthnot reported, with more
precipitance than he had ever known. He died
pn the fourth of December 173?,^ and was buried
* Spencc.
in
XIV 1IF£ OF JOHFT GAT*
IB Weftminfter Abbey. The letter vrhich brought
an account of his death to Swift was laid by for
fome days unopened^ becaufe when be received it
he was impreft with the preconception of fome
misfortune;
After his death was publifhed a fecond volume
of Fables more political than the former. His
opera of Acbilles was afled, and the profits were
given to two widow fillers, who inherited what he
left, as his lawful heirs ; for he died without a will,
though he had gathered * three thoufand pounds.
There have appeared likewife under his name a
comedy called the Diftrefi tVifc, and the Rchcarjal
at Gotbamy a piece of humour, t
• Spence.
f From Johnfon^s Lives of the Pa:t$.
TABLE
TO THE
FIRST PART.
INTRODUCTION TO THE FABLES. Paee
THE Shepherd and the Philofopher - - . «
Fables*.
1. TQ His Highnefs William, Duke of Cum-
berland
The Lion, the Tyger, and the Traveller - c
fi. The Spaniel and the Cameleon - - . q
3. The Mother, the Nurfe, and the Fairy . . 1 4
4. The Eagle, and the Allembly of Animals • iq
5. The Wild Boar and the Ram . . • j§
6. The Mifer and Plutus J7
7. The Lion, the Fox, and the Geefe - - 20
8. The Lady and the Wafp - - • • 00
9. The Bull and the Maftiff . . . , ^^
10. The Elephant and the Bookfeller - - . 27
1 1. The Peacock, the Turkey, and the Goofe . q 1
12. Cupid, Hymen, and Plutus . . . ^«
13. The Tame Stag J^
14. The Monkey who had feen the World - I 07
15. The Philofopher and the Pheafants . . ^\
16. The Pin and the Needle - • . ^ ll
17. The Shepherd's Dog and the Wolf . "1 ^g
*^' T^^ Painter who pleafed nobody and every body Is
19. The Lion and the Cub - . . ^ *^
20. The Old Hen and the Cock . . I " ^^
21. The Rat-catcher and the. Cats - , - * at
22. The Goat without a Beard ^ • "in
83. The Old Woman and her Cats • / ' 6^
24. The Butterfly and the Snail . . - * - ef
25. The Scold and the Parrot • . . " kft
26. The Cur and the MaftifF - - . / 70
27. The Sick Man and the Angel . - *- 72
*^' Z^^ Perfian, the Sun, and the Cloud . "". L
29. The Fox at the Point of Death • . l^
3^- Jl^c Setting Dog and the Partridge . I H
31. The Unxverfal Apparition . . . .82
32. The
XVI TABLE.
Paffo
g2. The Two Owls and the Sparrow - * - - 05
g3. The Courtier and Proteus - - - - 88
34< The MaftiflFs - -----91
35. The Barley. mow and the Dunghil ' "^ 94
36* Pythagoras and the Countryman ^ - - gg
37. The Fmner's Wife and the Rs^vcn * > . -98
38. The Turkey and the Ant - , . lot
39. The Father and Jupiter <? . . . 103
40. The Two Monkeys - • .. » - 106
4J. The Owl and the Farmer r - - . log
4a. The Jugglers - - - r m
43. The Council of Horfes , - - 116
44. The Hound and the Huntfman • , ng
45. The Poet and the Jlofe • - -r 121
46. The Cur, the Horfe, and the Shepherd's Dog 124
47. The Court of Death r - - - - ia6
^8. The Gardener and the Hog . , - 129
49. The Man and the Flea - . . 133
jo» The Har^ and niany Friends • ^ * ^Zi
" PART Yl^E SECOND.
I. The Doff an"d the Fox ... ^^^
a. Thfe Vulture, the Sparrow, and other Birds 147
3. Tl>e Baboon and" the Poultry - . 1^^
4. The Ant in Office r - -^ - 160
5. The Bear in a Boat ... , jgp
6. Thc''Squire and his Cur ^ . . i^g
7. The Countryman and Jupiter t. - 185
8. The Man, the Cat, the Dog, and the Fly - 193
^ 9. The Jackall, Leojpard, and other Beafts. • 20^
^o* The Degenerate Bees - ... 208
11. The Packhorfe and the Carrier - - .^213
i2» Pan aiid Fortune i - • . . 218
13. Piutus; Cupid, and Time - - . 225
' 14. The Owl, the Swan, the Cock, the Spider, the
Afs, and the Farmer . - . 334
15. The Cook-maid, the Turnfpit,. and the Ox 24^
16. The Ravens, the Sexton, and the Earth-worm 248
INTRODUCTION
.^
IITTROBlUCTUWr.
IS
INTRODUCTION
... -TO THB
# ' • * • , ■ •
E A B L E S/
■ . ' ' • •
I
PART THE FIRST.
THE SHEPHERD AND THE PHILOSOPHER.
TJ EMOTE from cities liv'd a Swain,
^^ Unvex'd with all the cares of gain;
His head was lilver'd o'er with age.
And long experience made him fage ;
In fummer's heat, and winter's cold.
He fed hi& flock and penned the fold ;
His hours in cheerful labour flew.
Nor envy nor ambition knew :
His wifdom and his honeft fame
Through all the country rais'd his name*
A deep Philofopher (whofe rules
Of moral life were drawn from fchools)
The Shepherd's homely cottage fought.
And thus explored his reach of thought*
B Whence
2 INTRODUCTION.
Whence is thy learning ? Hath thy toil
O'er books confum'd the midnight oil?
Haft thou old Greqce and Rome furvey'd.
And the vaft fenfe of Plato weighed ?
Hath Socrates thy foul refin'd.
And haft thou fathomed Tully's mind ?
Or like the wife Ulysses, thrown
By various fates, on realms unknown.
Haft thou through many cities ftray'd.
Their cuftoms, laws, and manners weighed ?
The Shepherd modeftly reply'd,
I ne'er the paths of learning try'd ;
Nor have I roam'd in foreign parts
To read mankind, their laws and arts ;
For man is praftis'd in difguife^
He cheats the moft difccrhing eyes ;
Who by that fearch fhall wifer grow.
When we ourfelves can never know ?
The little knowledge I have gain'd.
Was all from fimple nature^ drained ;
Hence my lifers maxims took their rife,
Hence grew my fettled hate to vice,
The
/
in:troducti ONr ;
The daily labours of the bee
Awake my foul to induftry. -
Who can obferve the careful ant,
And^ not provide for future want?
My dog (the truftieft of bis kind)
With gratitude inflames my mind*
I mark his true, his faithful way.
And in my fervice copy Tray.
In conftancy and nuptial love,
I learn my duty from the dove.
The hen, who from the chilly air.
With pious wing protefts her care ;
And ev'ry fowl that flies at large,
Inflrudls me in a parent's charge.
From nature top I take my rule.
To fliun contempt and ridicule. -
I never, with important air,
lil converfation overbear.
Can grave and formal pafs for wife.
When men the folemn owl defpife ?
My tongue within my lips I rein ;
For who talks much, mull talk in vain.
B2 We
4 INTRODUCTION*
We from the wordy torrent fly :
Who liftens to the chatt'ring pye ?
Nor would I, with felonious flight.
By fl:ealth invade my neighbour's rights
Rapacious animals we hate :
Kites, hawks, and wolves, deferve their fate^
Do not we juft abhorrence find
Againft the toad and ferpent kind ?
But envy, calumny, and fpite.
Bear ftronger venom in their bite.
Thus evVy obje61: of creation
Can furnifli hints to contemplation ;
And from the moft minute and mean^
A virtuous mind can morals glean.
Thy fame is jufl:, the fage replies ;
Thy virtue proves thee truly wife.
Pride often guides the author's pen.
Books as affefted are as men : ♦
But he who ftudies nature's laws.
From certain truth his n^axims draws ;
And thofe, without our fchools, fuffice
To make men moral, good, and wife.
TO
[ 5 1
TO HIS RICHNESS
WILLIAM,
DUKE OF CUMBERLAND.
f ^ S L £ X«
THE LION^THE TIGER, AND THE TRAVELLER.
A CCEPT, young Prince, the moral lay
And in thefe tales mankind furvey ;
With early virtues plant your breaft, .
The fpecious arts of vice deteft.
Princes, like beauties, from their youth
Are ftrangers to the voice of truth ;
Learn to contemn all praife betimes ;
For flattery's the nurfe of crimes :
Friendfliip by fweet reproof is fhown,
(A virtue never near a throne) ;
In courts fuch freedom muft offend.
There none prefumes to be a friend.
B3 To
i
O FABLES.
To thofe of your exalted flation
Each courtier is a dedication.
Muft I too flatter like the refl, j
And turn my morals to a jeft ?
The Mufe difdains to fleal from thofe.
Who thrive in courts by fulfbme profe.
But fhail I hide your real praife.
Or tell you what a nation fays ? *
They in your infant bofom trace ' , .
The virtues of your royal race ;
In the fair dawning of your mind
Difcern you gen'rous, mild, and kind ;
They fee you grieve to hear diflrefs.
And pant already to redrefs.
Go on, the height of good attain.
Nor let a nation hope in vain.
For hence we juftly may prefage
The virtues of a riper age.
True courage^ fliall your bofom fire.
And future a6lions own your fire.
Cowards
\
I
I
FABLES, y
C!owards are cruel, but the brave
Love mercy, and delight to fave.
A Tiger roaming for his prey.
Sprung on a Travler in the way ;
The proftrate game a lion fpies.
And on the greedy tyrant flies ;
With mingled roar refounds tke wood.
Their teeth, their claws diftil with blood ;
Till vanquifli'd by the Lion's ftrength.
The Ipotted fpe extends his length.
The Man befought the fliaggy lord.
And on his knees for life implor'd.
His life the gen'rous hero gave ;
Together walking to his cave.
The Lion thus befpoke his gueft. .
What hardy beaft fhall dare conteft
My matchlefs ftrength! you faw the fight,-
And muft ^atteft my pow'r and right.
Forc'd to forego their native home.
My ftarving flaves at diftance roam.
B 4 Within
8 FABLES.
Within thefe woods I reign alone,.
The boundlefs foreft is my own.
Bears, wolves, and all the favage brood.
Have dy'd the regal den with blood.
Thefe carcafes on either hand,
Thofe bones that whiten all the land.
My former deeds and triumphs tell.
Beneath thefe jaws what numbers fell.
True, fays the Man, the ftrength I faw^
Might well the brutal nation awe :
But ftiall a monarch, brave like you.
Place glory in fo falfe a view ?
Robbers invade their neighbour's right.
Be lov'd : let juftice bound your might.
Mean are ambitious heroes boafts
Of wafted lands and flaughter'd hofts.
Pirates their powV by murders gain.
Wife kings by love and mercy reigo.
To me your clemency hath fhown
The virtue worthy of a throne.
Heav'n
Piirtl.
FABLE II.
FABLE m.
FABLES.
Heav'n gives you a pow'r above the reft.
Like Heav'n to fuccour the diftreft.
The cafe is plain, the Monarch faid ;
Falfe glory hath my youth mifled ;
For beafts of prey a fervile train.
Have beeq the flatterers of my reign.
You reafon well : Yet tell me, friend.
Did ever you in courts attend ?
For all my fawning rogues agree.
That human heroes rule like me*
FABLE IL
THE SPANIEL AND THE CAMELEON.
A SPANIEL, bred with all the care
That waits upon a favVite heir.
Ne'er felt correflion's rigid hand ;
Indulged to difobey command.
In pamper'd eafe his hours were fpent ;
He never knew what learning meant,
% Such
lO FABLES^
Such forward airs, fo pert, fo fmart.
Were furc to win his lady's heart ;
Each little mifchief gain'd him praife ;
How pretty were his fawning ways !
The wind was fouth, the morning fair.
He ventured forth to take the air.
He ranges all the meadow round.
And rolls upon the fofteft ground :
When near him a cameleon feen.
Was fcarce diftinguilh'd from the greeix
Dear emblem of the flattVing hoft.
What, live with clow^ns! a genius loft!
To cities and the court repair :
A fortune cannot fail thee there :
Preferment (hall thy talents crown.
Believe me, friend ; I know the town*
Sir, fays the Sycophant, like you.
Of old, politer life I knew :
Like you, a courtier born and bred ;
Kings lean'd an ear to what I faid.
My whifper always met fuccefs ;
The ladies prais'd me for addrefs,
I knew
-'*.
FABLES. 11
I knew to hit each courtier's paflion.
And flatter'd ev'ry vice in fafliion.
But Jove, who hates the liar's ways.
At once cut fhort my profp'rolis days ;
And, fentenc'd to retain my nature,
Transform'd me to this crawhng creature,
Doom'd to a life obfcure and mean,
I wander in the fylvan fcene.
For Jove the heart alone regards ;
He puniflies what man rewards.
How difFrent is thy cafe and mine!
With men at leaft you fup and dine ;
While I, condemn'd to thinneft fare.
Like thofe I flatter'd feed on air.
FABLE IIL
THE MOTHER, THE NURSE, AND THE FAIRY.
/^ IVE me a fon. The blefling fent,
.Were ever parents more content?
How partial are their doating eyes !
No child is half fo fair and wife. ^
Wak'd
I .
12 FABLES.
Wak'd to the morning's pleafing care,
The mother rofe, and fought her heir.
She faw the Nurfe, like one poflefs'd.
With wringing hands, and fobbing breaft#
Sure fome difafter hath befel :
Speak, Nurfe ; I hope the boy is well.
Dear Madam, think not me to blame;
Invifible the Fairy came :
Your precious babe is hence conveyed.
And in the place a changeling laid.
Where are the father's mouth and nofe.
The mother's eyes, as black as floes ?
See here a fliocking aukward creature^
That fpeaks a fool in ev'ry feature.
The womau's blind, the Mother cries ;
I fee wit fparkle in his eyes.
Lord ! Madam, what a fquinting leer j
No doubt the Fairy hath been here,
Jufl as flie fpoke, a Pigmy Sprite
Pops through the key-hole, fwift as light,;
Perch'd on the cradle's top he ftands.
And thus her folly reprimands.
Whence
^^ .J
FABJLE W.
FABLB V.
FABLES. in
Whence fprving the vain conceited lie.
That we the world with fools fupply ?
What ! give our fprightly race away.
For the dull helplefs fons of clay ! .
Befides, by partial fondnefs fliown.
Like you we doat upon our own.
Where yet was ever found a mother.
Who'd give her booby for another ?
And Ihbuld Ve change for hjiman breed.
Well might we pafs for fools indeed^
> • >
FABLE IV.
THE EAGLE, AND THE ASSEMBLY OF
, ANIMALS.
A S JupiTERVall-fecing eye
Surveyed the worlds beneath the fky.
From this'fmall fpeck of earth were fent, '
Murmurs and founds of difconteht ; . :
For ev'ry thing alive complain'd,
That he the hardeft hfe fuftain'd.
Jov6
14 FABLES.
Jove calls his Eagle. At the word
Before him flands the royal bird.
The bird, obedient, from heav'n's height,
Downward direfts his rapid flight ;
Then cited ev'ry living thing.
To hear the mandates of his king.
Ungrateful creatures, whence arife
Thefe murmurs which offend the fkies ?
Why this diforder ? fay the caufe :
For juft are Jove's eternal laws.
Let each his difcontent reveal ;
To yon four Dog, I firft appeal.
Hard is my lot, the Hound replies.
On what fleet nerves the Greyhound flies.
While I, with weary ftep and flow.
O'er plains and vales, and mountains go.
The morning fees my chafe begun.
Nor ends it till the fetting fun.
When (fays the Greyhound) I purfue.
My game is loft, or caught in view ;
^ Beyond
FABLES. 15
Beyond Itny fight the prey's fecure :
The Hound is flow, but always fure.
And had I his fagacious fcent,
Jove ne'er had heard my difcontent.
The Lion crav'd the Fox's art ;
The Fox, the Lion's force and heart.
The Cock iraplor'd the Pigeon's flight,
Whofe wings were rapid, ftrong, and light :
The Pigeon ftrength of wing defpis'd.
And the Cock's matchlefs valour priz'd :
The Fifhes wifli'd to graze the plain ;
The beafls to flcim beneath the main*
Thus^ envious of another's ftate.
Each blam'd the partial hand of Fate.
The bird of heav'n then cry'd aloud,
Jo VE bids difperfe the murm'ring crowd ;
The God rejefts your idle prayers-
Would ye, -rebellious mutineers.
Entirely change your name and nature,
*.
And be the very envy'd creature ?
What
i6 FABLES.
What, filent all, and none confent f
Be happy thien, and learn content :
Nor imitate the reftlefs mind,
Aad proud ambition of mankind.
FABLE V.
THE WILD BOAR AND THE RAM/
•■*-
A GAINST an elm a fheep was ty'd.
The butcher's knife in blood was dy'd ;
♦ • . • *
The patient flock in filent fright.
From far beheld the horpd fight.
A favage Boar, who n^ar them ftood.
Thus mock'd to fcorn the fleecy brood*
All cowards fliould be fervid like you.
See, fee,, your murd'rer is in view :
With purple hands and reeking knife.
He ftrips the flcin yet warm. with life :
Your quarter'd fires, your bleeding dams.
The dying bleat of harmlefs lambs.
Call for revenge. O ftupid race ! -
The heart that wants revenge is bafe.
I^ grant
Fabiltb vn.
TABLES. 17
I grant, an ancient Ram replies.
We bear no terror in our eyes ;
Yet think us not of foul fo tame.
Which no repeated wrongs inflame ;
InfenfiWe of ev'ry ill,
Becaufe we want thy tufks to kilL
Kno^y, thofc who violence purfue.
Give to themfelves the vengeance due ;
For in thefe maflacres we find
The two chief plagues that wafte mankind.
_ *
Our (kin fupplies the wrangling bar.
It wakes their flumb'ring fons to war;
And well revenge may reft contented.
Since drums and parchment were invented.
FABLE VI.
• THE miser' AND PLUTUS,
'npHE wind was high, the window fhakes,
■^ With fudden dart the Mifer wakes ;
Along the filent room he ftalks ;
Looks back^ and trembles as he walks !
C Each
l8 FABLES*
Each Itfck and evVy bolt he tries.
In evYy creek and corner pries.
Then opes the cheft with treafure ftor'd.
And ftands in rapture o'er his hoard;
But, now with fudden qualms poffeft.
He wrings his hands, he beats his breaft.
By copfcience flung, he wildly ftares;
And thus his guilty foul declares.
Had the deep earth her ftores confined.
This heart had known fweet peace of mind.
But virtue's fold. Good Gods! what price
Can recompenfe the pangs of vice !
O bane of good ! feducing cheat !
Can man, weak man, thy power defeat ?
Gold banifh'd honour from the mind.
And only left the name behind ;
Gold fow'd the world with evVy ill ;
Gold taught the murderer's fword to kill ;
Twas gold inftruded coward hearts.
In treachiery's more pernicious arts.
Who
FABLES. ig
Who can recount the mifchiefs o*er?
Virtue refides on earth no more !
He fpoke, and figh'd. In angry mood,
Plutus, his god, before him flood.
The Mifer trembling, locked his cheft ;
The vifion frown'd, and thus add reft.
Whence is this vile ungrateful rant ?
Each fordid rafcal's daily cant.
Did I, bafe wretch, corrupt mankind?
The fault's in thy rapacious mind.
Becaufe my blefEngs are abus'd,
Muft I be cenfur'd, curs'd, accused ?
Ev'n virtue's felf by kpaves is made
A cloak to carry on the trade ;
And pow'r (when lodg'd in their pofTeflion)
Grows tyranny, and rank oppreffion.
Thus, when the villain crams his che((.
Gold i$ the canker of the breaft ;
*Tis avarice, infolence, and pride,
And every (hocking vice befide.
But when to virtuous hands 'tis given.
It blefles, like the dews of heav'n ;
C a Uke
20 FABLES.
Like heav'n, it hears the orphans criesy
And wipes the tears from widows eyes-;
Their crimes on gold fliall mifers lay^
Who pawn'd their fordid fouls for pay?
Let bravoes then (when blood is fpilt)
Upbraid the paflive fword with guilt.
FABLE VIL
THE LION, THE FOX, AND THE GEESB^
A LION, tir'd with ftate affairs.
Quite fickof pomp, and worn with cares,
Refolv'd (remote from noife and ftrife)
I
In peace to pafs his latter life.
It was proclaimed ; the day was fet ;
Behold the genVal council met.
The Fox was Viceroy nam'd. The crowd
To the new Regent humbly bow'd.
Wolves, bears, and mighty tygers bend.
And ftrive who moft (hall condefcend.
He ftrait afiiimes a folemn grace,
CoUefts his wifdom in his face.
The
*
FABLES* 21
The crowd admire his wit, his fenfe :
Each word hath weigl.t and confequence.
The flatt'rer all his art difplays :
He who hath power, is fure of praife.
A Fox ftept forth before the reft.
And thus the fervile thrbng addreft.
How vaft his talents, born to rule.
And train'd in virtue's honeft fchool !
What clemency his temper fways !
How unco;rrupt are all his ways !
Beneath his condufk and command.
Rapine fhall ceafe to wafte the land.
His brain hath ftratagem and art ;
Prudence and mercy rule his heart ;
What bleffings muft attend the nation ,
Under this good adminiftration !
He faid. A Goofe who diftant ftood,
Harangu'd apart the cackling brood.
Whene'er I hear a knave commend.
He bids me fhun his worthy friend.
What praife ! what mighty commendation !
But 'twas a Fox who fpoke th' oration.
C 3 Foxes
Foxes this government may prvt^s
As gentle^ plenti*^*!, and wife ;
Ifjj>i>j-^efy6y the fweets, 'tis plain
We Geefe muft feel a tyrant reign* >
What havock now (hall thin our race.
When ev'ry petty clerk in place.
To prove his tafte and feem polite.
Will feed on Geefe both noon and night !
FABLE VIII.
THE LADY AND THE WASP.
WHAT whifpers muft the Beauty be^r !
What hourly nonfenfe haunts her ear!
Where'er her eyes difpenfe their charms.
Impertinence around her fwarms*
Did not the tender nonfenfe ft r ike.
Contempt and fcorn might foon diflike. *
Forbidding airs might thin the place.
The flighteft flap a fly can chafe.
But who can drive the num'rous breed ?
Chafe one, another will fucce^d.
Who
FabiIe vih.
FAB1.E IX»
F^ fi L £<S. 23
Who knows a fool, muft know his brother ;
One fop will recommend another :
And with this plague (he's rightly curft,
fiecaufe (he liften'd to the (irft.
As Doris, at her toilet's duty.
Sat meditating on her beauty.
She now was penfive, now was gay.
And loird the fultry hours away.
As thus in indolence (he lies,
A giddy Wafp around her flies.
He now advances, now retires.
Now to her neck and cheek afpires.
Her fan in vain defends • .er charms ;
Swift he returns, again alarms ;
For by repulfe he bolder grew,
Perch'd on her lip, and (ipt the dew.
She frowns; (he frets. Good God ! (he cries,
Proteft me from thefe teazing flies!
Of all the plagues that heav'n hath fent,
A Wafp is moft impertinent.
The hov'ring infeft thus complained ;
Am I then flighted, fcorn'd, difdain'd ?
C 4 Can
24 FABLES,
Can fuch offence your anger wake ?
'Twas beauty caus'd the bold miftake.
Thofe cherry lips that breathe perfume.
That cheek fo ripe with youthful bloom.
Made me with ftrong defire purfue
Th^ faireft peach that ever grew.
Strike him not, Jenny, Doris cries.
Nor murder Wafps like vulgar flies :
For though he's free (to do him right)
The creature's civil and polite.
In ecftacies away he pofts ;
Where-e'er he came, the favour boalls ;
Brags how her fweeteft tea he fips.
And fhews the fugar on his lips.
The hint alarm'd the forward crew.
Sure of fuccefs, away they flew.
They fliare the dainties of the day.
Round her with airy mufic play ;
And now they flutter, now they reft.
Now foar again, and fkim her breaft.
Nor were they banifli'd, till flie found
That Wafps have flings, and felt the wound.
FABLE
F A B L,E S« 25
FABLE IX.
THE BULL AND THE MASTIFF*
CEEK you to train your fav'rite boy ?
Each caution, ev'ry care employ :
And ere you venture to confide.
Let his preceptor's heart be try'd :
Weigh well his manners, life and fcope ;
On thefe depends thy future hope.
As on a time, in peaceful reign,
A Bull enjoy'd the flow'ry plain,
A MaflifF pafs'd ; inflam'd with ire.
His eye-balls fhot indignant fire ;
He foam'd, he rag'd with thirft of blood.
Spurning the ground the monarch flood.
And roar'd aloud, Sufpend the fight ;
In a whole fkin go fleep to-night :
Or tell me, ere the battle rage.
What wrongs provoke thee to engage ?
Is it ambition fires thy breaft.
Or avarice that ne'er can reft ?
From
26 FABLES.
From thefe alone unjuftly fprings
The world-deftroying wrath of king$«
The furly MaftifF thus returns.
Within my bofom glory burns.
Like heroes of eternal name.
Whom poets ling, I fight for fame.
The butcher's fpirit-ftirring mind
To daily war my youth inclin'd j
He train'd me to heroic deed ;
Taught me to conquer, or to bleed.
Curs'd Dog, the Bull reply'd, no more
I wonder at thy thirft of gore ;
For thou (beneath a butcher train'd,
Whofe hands with cruelty are ftain'd;
His daily murders in thy view)
Muft, like thy tutor, blood purfue.
Take then thy fate. With goring wound.
At once he lifts him from the ground ;
4
Aloft the fprawling hero flies.
Mangled he falls, he howls, .and dies.
FABLE
FABLE XI.
^
F A B I £ 9* 27
F A B t E X.
THE ELEPHANT AND THE BOOKSELLER,
'THHE man who with undaunted toils
Sails unknown feas to unknown foilst
With various wonders feaft his %ht :
What ftranger wonders does he write !
We read, and in defcription view^
Creatures which Adam never knew :
For, when we rilk no contradiftion
It prompts the tongue to deal in fi6lion.
Thofe things that ftartle me or you,
I grant are ftrange ; yet may be true*
Who doubts that Elephants are found
For fcience and for fenfe renown'd ?
fioRRi records their ftrength of parts.
Extent of thought, and fkill in arts ;
How they perform the law's decrees,
And fave the ftate the hangman's fees ;
And
28 FABLES.
And how by travel underftand
The language of another land.
Let thofe, who queftion this report.
To Pliny's ancient page refort;
How learn'd was that fagacious breed!
Who now (like them) the Greek can read !
f
As one of thefe, in days of yore,
Rummag'd a fhop of learning o'er ;
Not, like our modern dealers, minding
Only the margin's breadth and binding ;
A book his curious eye detains.
Where, with exafteft care and pains.
Were ev'ry bead and bird portray'd.
That e'er the fearch of man furvey'd.
Their natures and their powers were writ.
With all the pride of human wit.
The page he with attention fpread.
And thus remark'd on what he read.
Man with ftrong reafon is endow'd ;
A beaft fcarce inftinft is allow'd.
But
I
A
■
FABLES. 2Q
But let this author's worth be try'd,
'Tis plain that neither was his guide.
Can he difcern the difFrent natures.
And weigh the power of other creatures.
Who by the partial work hath fhown
He knows fo little of his own ?
How falfly is the fpaniel drawn !
Did man from him firft learn to fawn ?
A dog proficient in the trade !
He the chief flatterer nature made!
Go, Man, the ways of courts difcern
Youll find a fpaniel ftill might learn.
How C9n the fox's theft and plunder
Provoke his cenfure or his wonder ;
From courtiers tricks, and lawyers arts.
The fox might well improve his parts.
The lion, wolf, and tyger's brood.
He curfes, for their third of blood :
But is not man to man a prey ?
Beads kill for hunger, men for pay.
The Bookfeller, who heard him fpeak.
And /aw him turn a page of Greek,
Thought,
36. FABLE S.
Thought, what a genius have I found!
Then thus addrefs'd with bow profound*
i
Learn'd Sir, if you'd employ your pen J
Againft the fenfelefs fons of men^
Or write the Hiftory of Siam,
No man is better pay than I am ;
Or, fince you're learn'd in Greek, let's fee
Something againft the Trinity.
When wrinkling with a fneer his trtmk.
Friend, quoth the Elephant, you're drunk,;
E'en keep your money and be wife:
Leave man on man to criticife ;
For that you ne'er can want a pen
Among the fenfelefs fons of meii.
They unprovok'd will court the fray :
Envy's a (harper fpur than pay.
No author ever fpar'd a brother;
Wits are game-cocks to one another.
FABLE
FABLES. 31
FABLE XL
THE PEACOCK, THE TURKEY, AND THE
GOOSE.
TN beauty faults confpicuous grow;
^ The fmalleft fpeck is feen on fnow.
As near a barn, by hunger led,
A Peacock with the poultry fed ;
All viewed him with an envious eye.
And mock'd his gaudy pageantry.
He, confcious of fuperior merit.
Contemns their bafe reviling fpirit ;
His ftate and dignity affumes.
And to the fun difplays his plumes ;
Which, like the heav'n's o*er arching fkies*
Are fpangled with a thoufand eyes.
The circling rays, and varied light.
At once confound their dazzled fight :
OnevVy tongue detraftion burns.
And malice prompts their fpleen by turns.
Mark,
1
I
32 FABLES.
Mark, with what infolence and pride.
The creature takes his haughty ftride !
The Turkey cries. Can fpleen contain ?
Sure never bird was half fo vain !
But were intrinfic merit feen,
We Turkeys have the whiter Ikin.
From tongue to tongue they caught abufe ;
And next was heard the hiffing Goofe.
What hideous legs ! what filthy claws !
I fcorn to cenfure little flaws !
Then what a horrid fqu ailing throat !
Ev'n owls are frighted at the note.
True. Thofe are faults, the Peacock cries;
My fcream, my fhanks you may defpife :
But fuch blind criftics rail in vain : .
What, overlook my radiant train !
Know, did my legs (your fcorn and fport)
The Turkey or the Goofe fupport.
And did ye fcream with harfher found,
Thofe faults in you had ne'er been found ?
To all apparent beauties blind.
Each blemifli ftrikes an envious mind.
Thus
/
FABLE XSS.
FABLE Xm.
FABLES. 33
Thus in aflemblics have I feen
A nyraph of brighteft charms and mien.
Wake envy in each ugly face ;
And buzzing fcandal fills the place.
y
FABLE XII.
CUPID, HYMEN, AND PLUTUS.
A S Cupid in Cy thera's grove
^ Employed the leffer powers of l6ve ;
Some (hape the bow, or fit the firing ;
Some give the taper fhaft its v^'va^y
Or turn the polifti'd quiver's mould.
Or head the dart with tempered gold. '
Amidft their toil and various care.
Thus Hymen, with alTuming air,
Addrefs'd the God. Thou piirblind chit.
Of aukward and ill-judging wit.
If matches are not better made.
At once I mud forfwear my trade.
D You
1?
34 -FABLES.
You fend me fuch ill-coupled folks.
That 'tis a fhame to fell them yokes:
They fquabble for a pin, a feather.
And wonder how they came together.
The hufband's fullen, dogged, fliy.
The wife grows flippant in reply ;
He loves command and due reftriftion.
And (he as well likes contradi6lion :
She never flaviflily fubmits ;
She'll have her will, or have her fits.
He this way tugs, fhe tbther draws :
The man grows jealous, and with caufe.
Nothing can fave him b.ut divorce ;
And here the wife complies of courfe.
When, fays the Boy, had I to do
With either your affairs or you ?
I never idly fpent my darts ;
You trade in mercenary hearts.
For fettlements the lawyer's fee'd ;
Is my hand witnefs to the deed ?
If they like cat and dog agree.
Go rail at Plutus, not at me.
Plutus
F AB i.£ S»
Plutus appear'd, and faid ^Tis true.
In marriage gold is all their view :
They feek not beauty, wit, or fenfe ;
And love is feldom the pretence*
All oflFer incenfe at my Ihrine,
And I alone the bargain fign.
How can Belinda blame her fate?
She only afk'd a great eflate.
Doris was rich enough, *tis true ;
Her lord muft give her title too :
And evVy man, or rich or poor,
A fortune afks, and a(ks no more.
Avarice, whatever (hape it bears,
Muft ftill be coupled with its cares*
35
FABLE XHL
THE TAME STAG.
AS a young Stag the thicket paft.
The branches held his antlers faft ;
A clown, who faw the captive hung,
Acrofs the horns his halter flung.
D 2 Now
36 FABLES.
Now fafely hampered in the cord.
He bore the prefent to his lord.
His lord was pleas'd ; as was the clown.
When he was tipt with half-a-crown.
The Stag was brought before his wife ;
The tender lady begg'd his life.
How fleek's the (kin! hoW fpeck'd like ermine!
Sure never creature was fo charming !
At firft within the yard confin'd.
He flies and hides from all mankind ;
Now bolder grown, with fix*d amaze.
And diilant awe, pre fumes to gaze ;
Munches the linen on the lines.
And on a hood or apron dines :
He fteals my little matter's bread,
Follows the fervants to be fed :
Nearer and nearer now he ftands.
To feel thepraife of patting hands ;
Examines evVy fift for meat.
And though repuls'd, difdains retreat : ^
Attacks j
f
eabjlb Jay.
FABtK XV".
FABLES, 37
Attacks again with leveird horns ;
And man, that was his terror, fcorns.
Such is the counJtry maiden's fright.
When firft a red-coat is in fight;
Behind the door fhe hides her face ;
Next time at diftance eyes the lace.
She now can all his terrors (land.
Nor from his fqueeze withdrawi; her hand.
She plays familiar in his arms.
And ev'ry foldier hath his charms.
From tent to tent fhe fpreads her flame ;
For cuftom conquers fear and (hame.
^ FABLE XIV.
THE MONKEY WHO HAD SEEN THE WORLD-
A MONKEY, to reform tiie times,
JRefolv'd to vifit foreign climes:
For men in diftant regions roam
To bring politer manners -home,
D3 So
3$ TABLES.
So ferth he fares, all toil defies :
Misfortune ferves to make us wife.
At length the treach'rous (bare was laid ;
Poor Pug was caught, to town convey'd.
There fold. How envy'd was his doom.
Made captive in a lady's room!
Proud as a lover of his chains.
He day by day her favour gains.
Whene'er the duty of the day
The toilet calls ; with mimic play
He twirls her knot, he cracks her fan,
Like any other Gendeman.
In vifits too his parts and wit,
«
When jefts grew dull, were fure to hit.
Proud with applaufe, he thought his mind
In ev'ry courtly art refin'd ;
Like Orpheus burnt with public zeal.
To civilize the monkey weal :
So watched oqcsifion, broke his chain.
And fought his native woods again.
The
FABLES. 39
The hairy fylvans round him prefs,
Aftonifh'd at his ftrut and drefs.
Some praife his fleeve ; and others glote
Upon his rich embroider 'd coat ;
His dapper perriwig commending,
With the black tail behind depending ;
His powder'd back, above, below.
Like hoary froft, or fleecy fnow ;
But all with envy and defirej
His fluttVing fhoulder-knot admire*
Hear and improve; he pertly cries ;
I come to make a nation wife.
Weigh your own words ; fupport your place.
The next in rank to human race.
In cities long I pafs'd my days,
Convers'd with men, and learnt their ways.
Their drefs, their courtly manners fee ;
Reform your ftate and copy me.
Seek ye to thrive ? in flatt'ry deal ;
Your fcorn, your hate, with that conceaL
D 4 Seem
40 FABLES,
Seem only to regard your friends.
But ufe them for your private ends.
Stint not to truth the flow of wit ;
Be prompt to lie whene'er 'tis fit.
Bend all your force to fpatter merit ;
Scandal is converfation's fpirit.
Boldly to ev'ry thing attend.
And men your talents (hall commend.
I knew the great. Obfervc me right ; •
So fliall you grow like man polite.
He fpoke and bow'd . With muttVing jaws
The wond'ring circle grinn'd applaufe.
Now, warm with malice, envy, fpite.
Their moft obliging friends they bite ;
And fond to copy human ways,
Praftife new mifchiefs all their days.
Thus the dull lad, too tall for fchool,
With travel finifhes the fool ;
Studious of ev'ry coxcomb's airs.
He drinks, games, drefles, whores, and fwears;
O'erlooks
I
1
I:
\
A
FABLES. ^1
\
\
Overlooks with fcorn all virtuous arts,
For vice is fitted to his parts.
FABLE XV.
THE PHILOSOPHER AND THE PHEASANTS.
nPHE Sage, awak'd at early day.
Through the d^ep foreft took his way ;
Drawn by the mufic of the groves.
Along the winding gloom he roves :
From tree to tree, the warbling throats
Prolong the fweet alternate notes.
But where he paft, he terror threw.
The fong broke fhort, the warblers flew ;
The thrufhes chatter'd with affright.
And nightingales abhorr'd his fight ;
All animals before him ran.
To fhun the hateful fight of man.
Whence is this dread of ev'ry creature ?
Fly they our figure or our nature ?
As
42 FABLES.
As thus he walk'd in mufing thought.
His ear imperfefl accents caught ;
With cautious ftep he nearer drew.
By the thick fhade conceal'd from view.
High on the branch a Pheafant flood.
Around her all her lift ning brood ;
Proud of the bleffings of her neft.
She thus a mother's care exprefs'd.
No dangers here fhall circumvent.
Within the woods enjoy content.
Sooner the hawk or vulture truft,
«
Than man ; of animals the worft :
In him ingratitude you find,
A vice peculiar to the kind.
The fheep whofe annual fleece is dy'd,
'^o guard his health; and ferve his pride,
Forc'd from his fold and native plain,
Is in the. cruel fhambles flain.
The fwarms, who, with induftrious.fkiil.
His hives with wax and honey fill,
In vain whole fummer days employed.
Their ftores are fold, their race deftroy'd.
What
FABLK JCVIi
TABXiE XVH.
FABLES.
43
What tribute from the goofe is paid!
Does not her wing all fcience aid!
Does it not lovers hearts explain.
And drudge to raife the merchants gain ?
What now rewards this general ufe ?
He takes the quills, and eats the goofe.
Man then avoid, deteft his ways ;
So fafety fhall prolong your days.
When fervices are thus acquitted.
Be furc we Pheafants muft be fpitted.
FABLE XVL
THE PIN AND THE NEEDLE^
A PIN, who long had ferv'd a beauty,
*^ ^ Proficient in the toilet's duty.
Had form'd her fleeve, confiti'd her hair.
Or giv'n her knot a fmarter air.
Now neareft to her heart was plac'd.
Now in her mantua's tail difgrac'd :
But
44 P A B L £ S.
But could (he partial fortune blame.
Who faw her lovers ferv'd the fame ?
At length from all her honours caft ;
Through various turns of life (he paft ;
Now glitter'd on a taylor's arm ;
Now kept a beggar's infant warm ;
Now, rang'd within a mifer s coat ;
Contributes to his yearly groat ;
Now, rais'd again from low approach,
R
She vi(its in the doftor's coach ;
Here, there, by various fortune to(t.
At lafl; in Gre(ham-hall was loft.
Charm'd with the wonders of the (how.
On every (ide, above, below.
She now of this or that enquires, '
What leaft was underftood admires.
Tis plain, each thing fo ftruck her mind^
Her heads of virtuofo kind.
And pray's what's this, and this, dear Sir?
A Needle, fays the interpreter.
She knew the name. And thus the fool
Addrefs'd her as a taylor's tool.
A Needle
FABLES. ^c
A Needle with that filthy ftone.
Quite idle, all with ruft overgrown !
You better might employ your parts.
And aid the fempflrefs in her arts^
But tell me how the friendfhip grew
Between that paltry flint and you ?
Friend, fays the Needle, ceafe to blame ;
I follow real worth and fame.
Know'fl thou the loadflone's powV and art.
That virtue virtues can impart ?
Of all his talents I partake.
Who then can fuch a friend forfake ?
Tis I direfts the pilot's hand
To fhun the rocks and treacherous fand :
By me the diftant world is known.
And either India is our own.
Had I with milliners been bred.
What had I been ? the guide of thread.
And drudg'd as vulgar Needles do,
Of no more confequence than you. ,
FABLE
I
46 F A B L £ S«
FABLE XVII.
THE shepherd's DOG AND THE WOLF*
A WOLF, with hunger fierce and bold.
Ravaged the plains, and thinned the fold ;
Deep in the wood fecure he lay.
The thefts of night regaVd the day.
In vain the (hepherd's wakeful care
Had fpread the toils, and watched the fnare :
In vain the dog purfu'd his pace.
The fleeter robber mock'd the chace.
As Lightfoot rang'd the foreft round.
By chance his foe's retreat he found.
Let us awhile the war fufpend.
And reafon as from friend to friend.
A truce? replies the Wolf. Tisdone.
The Dog the parley thus begun.
How
FABLES. /^^
How can that ftrong intrepid mind
Attack a weak defencelefs kind ?
Thofe jaws (hould prey on nobler food.
And drink the boar's and lion's blood.
Great fouls with generous pity melt.
Which coward tyrants never felt.
How harmlefs is our fleecy care !
Be brave, and let thy mercy fpare.
Friend, fays the Wolf, the matter weigh ;
Nature defign'd us beafts of prey ;
As fuch when hunger finds a treat,
Tis neceffary Wolves fhould eat.
If mindful of the bleating weal.
Thy bofom burn with real zeal ;
«
Henc(* and thy tyrant lord befeech ;
To him repeat the moving fpeech :
«
A Wolf eats Iheep but now and then.
Ten thoufands are devoured by men.
An open foe may prove a curfe.
But a pretended friend is worfc.
FABLE
48 FABLES.
FABLE XVIIL
THE PAINTER WHO PLEASED NOBODYAND
EVERY BODY.
T EST men fufpeft your tale untrue.
Keep probability in view.
The traveler leaping o'er thofe bounds.
The credit of his book confounds.
Who with his tongue hath armies routed.
Makes ev'n his real courage doubted :
But flattVy never feem^ abfurd ;
The flatter'd always take your word :
Impoffibilities feem juft ;
They take the ftrongeft praife on truff .
Hyperboles,, tho' ne er fo great.
Will ftill come (hort of felf-conceit.
So very like a Painter drew.
That ev'ry eye the pifture knew ;
He hit Complexion, feature, air.
So juft, thft life itfelf was there.
No
tabim'e xnm.
TABI.B XCX.
F A B L £ S. x ^g
Ko flattVy with his colours laid.
To bloom reftbr^d the faded maid ;
He gave eadf mufcle all its ftrength ;
The mouth, ,the chin, the nofe's length*
His honeft pencil touch'd with truth.
And mark'd the date of age and youth.
He loft hifr friends, his pradice faiFd ;
Truth fhould not always be reveal'd ;
In dufty piles hi§ pictures lay.
For no one fent the' fecond pay.
Twobuftos, fraught with every grace
A Venus' and Apollo's face^
He plac'd in view ; refolv'd to pleafe.
Whoever fat, he drew from thefe.
From thefe correftcd ev'ry feature.
And fpirited each auk ward creature.
All things were fet ; the hour was come.
His pallet ready o'er his thumb.
My Lord appear'd ; and feated right
In proper attitude and light,
£ The
50 FABLES.
The Painter look'd, he fketch*d the piece.
Then dipt his pencil, talk'd of Greece,
Of Titian's tints, of Guido's air;
Thofe eyes, my Lord, the fpirit there
Might well a Raphael's hand require.
To give them all tlie native fire ;
The features fraught with fenfe and wit,
Youll grant are very hard to hit ;
But yet with patience you fhall view
As much as paint and art can do.
Obferve the work. My Lord reply'd,
'Till now I thought my mouth was wide ;
Befides, my mouth is fome what long ;
Dear Sir, for me, 'tis far too young.
Oh ! pardon me, the artift cry'd.
In this, the painters muft decide.
The piece ev'n common eyes muft ftrike,
I warrant it extremely like.
My Lord examin'd it a-new ;
No looking-glafs feem'd half fo true.
A Lady
FABLES. ri
A Lady came, with borrowed grace
He from his Venus form'd her face.
Her lover prais'd the Painter^s art ;
So like the pifture in his heart !
To ev'ry age fome charm he lent ;
Ev n Beauties were almoft content.
Through all the town his art they prais'd ;
His cuftom grew, his price was rais'd.
Had he the real likenefs fhown.
Would any man the pifture own ?
But when thus happily he wrought.
Each found the likenefs in his thought.
FABLE XIX.
THE LION AND THE CUB.
TTO\y fond are men of rule and place.
Who court it from the mean and bafc !
Thefe cannot bear an equal nigh.
But from fiiperior merit fly.
E 2 ' They
C2 FABLES.
They love the cellar's vulgar joke.
And lofe their hours in ale and fmoke.
There o er fome petty club prefide ;
So poor, fo paltry is their pride !
Nay,^ ev n with fools whole nights will fit.
In hopes to be fupreme in wit.
If thefe can read, to thefe I write.
To fet their worth in trueft light.
A Lion-cub, of fordid mind.
Avoided all the lion kind ;
Fond of applaufe, he fought the feafts
Of vulgar and ignoble beafts ;
With afles all his time he fpent.
Their club's perpetual prefident.
He caught their manners, looks, and airs ;
An afs in every thing, but ears !
If e'er his highnefs meant a joke.
They grinn'd applaufe before he fpoke ;
But at each word what (bouts of praife !
Good Gods ! how natural he brays!
Elate
7 AB t£ S. 53
Elate with flatt'ry and conceit^
He feeks his royal fire's retreat ;
Forward, and fond to fhow his parts.
His highnefs brays ; the Lion ftarts.
Puppy, that curs'd vociferation
Betrays thy life and converfation :
Coxcombs, an ever-noify race^
Are trumpets of their own difgrace.
Why fo fevere ? the Cub replies ;
Our fenate always held me wife.
How weak is pride ! returns the fird ;
All fools are vain, when fools admire !
But know what flupid affes prize.
Lions and noble beads defpife.
E3 FABLE
54 FABLES.
FABLE XX.
THE OLD HEN AND THE COCK
r
t
RESTRAIN your child; you'll foon be-
lieve.
The text which fays, we fprung from Eve^
As an old Hen led forth her train.
And feem'd to peck to fhe w the grain ;
She rak'd the chaff, (he fcratch'd the ground.
And glean'd the fpacious yard around.
A giddy chick, to try her wings.
On the well's narrow margin fprings.
And prone fhe drops. The mother's breaft
All day with forrow was poffefs'd.
A Cock fhe met ; her fon fhe knew ;
And in her heart affeftion grew.
My
FABIUE XX.
FABILE XXI.
FABLES. 55
My ion, fays (he, I grant your years
Have reaeh'd beyond a Mother's cares,
I fee you vigVous^ ftrong, and bold ;
I hear with joy your triumphs told.
'Tis not from Cocks thy fate I dread ; .
But let thy ever-wary tread
Avoid yon well ; that fatal place
Is fure perdition to our race.
Print this my counfel on thy breaft ;
To the juft gods I leave the reft.
He thank'd her care ; yet day by day
His bofom bum'd to difobey,
And ev'ry time the well he faw,
Scorn'd in his heart the fooliOi law :
Near and more near each day he drew.
And long'd to try the dang'rous view.
Why was this idle charge ? he cries :
Let courage female fears defpife.
Or did flie doubt my heart was brave.
And therefore this injunftion gave ?
E4 Or
56 FABLES.
Or does her harveft ilore the place,
A treafure for her younger race ?
And would (he thus my fearch prevent ?
I (land refolv'd, and dare th* event.
Thus faid. He mounts the margin's round.
And pries into the depth profound.
He ftretch'd his neck ; and from below
With ftretching neck advanced a foe :
With wrath his ruffled plumes he rears.
The foe with ruffled plumes appears :
Threat anfwer'd threat, his fury grew.
Headlong to meet the war he flew.
But when the watVy death he found.
He thus lamented as he drown'd.
I ne'er had been in this condition.
But for my mother s prohibition.
FABLE
FABLES.
57
FABLE XXI.
THE RAT-CATCHER AND CATS.
'T^HE rats by night. fuch mifchief did,
Betty was ev'ry morning chid.
They undermined whole fides of baqon.
Her cheefe was fapp'd, her tarts were taken«
Her pafties, fcnc'd with thickeft paile^
Were all demolilh'd, and laid wafte.
She curs'd the cat for want of duty.
Who left her foes a conftant booty.
An Engineer, of noted Ikill,
Engag'd to flop the growing ill.
From room to room he now furveys
Their haunts, their works, their fccret way s ;
Finds where they Tcapc an ambufcade.
And whence the nightly fally's made.
An envious Cat from place to place,
Unfeen, attends his iilent pace.
She
58 FABLES.
She faw, that if his trade went on.
The purring race muft be undone ;
So, fecretly removes his baits.
And evVy ftratagem defeats.
Again he fets the poifon'd toils.
And Pufs again the labour foils.
What foe (to fruftrate my defigns)
r
My fchemes thus nightly countermines ?
Incens'd, he cries : this very hour
This wretch fhall bleed beneath my power.
So faid. A pond'rous trap he brought,
And \n the faft poor Pufs was caught.
Smuggler, fays he, thou flialt be made
A viftim to our lofs of trade.
The captive Cat, with piteous mews.
For pardon, life, and freedom fues.
A fifter of the fcience fparc ;
One int'reft is our common care.
*
What
FABLES.
59
What infolence ! the man reply 'd ;
Shall Cats with us the game divide?
Were all your interloping band
Extinguifh'd, or expell'd the land.
We Rat-catchers might raife our fees.
Sole guardians of a nation's cheefe !
A Cat, who faw the lifted knife.
Thus fpoke, and fav'd her lifter's life,
^
In evry age and clime we fee.
Two of a trade can ne^er agree.
Each hates his neighbour for encroaching ;
'Squire ftigmatizes Tquire for poaching ;
Beauties with beauties are in arms.
And fcandal pelts each other's charms ;
Kings too their neighbour kings dethrone.
In hope to make the world their own.
But let us limit our defires;
Not war like beauties, kings, and.Tquires !
ft
For though we both one prey purfue.
There's game enough for us and you.
FABLE
€o FABLES*
FABLE XXU
THE GOAT WITHOUT A BEAltD.
^THIS certain, that the modi(h paffions
Defcend among the croud, like falhions^
Excufe me then ; if pcide, conceit,
(The manners of the fair and great)
I give to monkeys, afles, dogs,
Fleas, owls, goats, butterflies^ and hogs.
I fay that thefe are proud. What then ?
I never faid they equal men.
A Goat (as vain as Goat can be)
Affefted fingularity.
Whene'er a thy my bank he found.
He roird upon the fragrant ground ;
And then with fond attention flood,
Fix'd o*er his image in the flood*. ,
•I hate
<
I
J
Fart I. ^
FABiii: xxn.
FABL.^ JXXIU.
CABLES. 6l
I hate my frowzy beard he cries ;
My youth is loft in this difguife.
Did not the females know my vigour.
Well might they loath this revVend figure.
Refolv'd to fmooth his Ihaggy face.
He fought the barber of the place^
A flippant monkey, fpruce and fmart.
Hard by, profefs'd the dapper art.
His pole with pewter bafons hung.
Black rotten teeth in order ftrung,
Rang'd cups that in the window 'flood,
Lin'd with red rags, to look like bloody
Did well his threefold trade explain^
Who fhav*d, drew teeth, andbreath'davein.
The 'Goat he welcomes with an air^
And feats him in his wooden chair :
Mouth, nofe, and cheek, the lather hides :
Lights fmooth, and fwift, the razor glides.
I hope your cuflom, Sir, fays Pug.
Sure never face was^half fo fmug.
The
>
62 FABLES.
The Goat impatient for applaufe.
Swift to the neighbouring hill withdraws
The fliaggy people grinn'd and ftar'd.
«
Heighday ! what's here ? without a beard !
Say, brother, whence the dire difgrace ?
What envious hand hath robb'd your face?
When thus the fop with fmiles of fcorn :
Are beards by civil nations worn ?
Ev n Mufcovites have riiow'd their chins.
Shall we, like formal Capuchins,
Stubborn in pride, retain the mode.
And bear about the hairy load ?
Whene er we through the village ftray;
Are we not mock'd along the way ;
Infulted with loud fhouts of fcorn.
By boys our beards difgrac'd and torn?
Were you no more with Goats to dwell^
Brother, I grant you reafon well.
Replies a bearded chief. Befide,
If boys can mortify thy pride.
How
FABLES. 63
How wilt thou Hand the ridicule
Of our whole flock ? afFefted fool !
Coxcombs, dijftinguifh'd from the reft.
To all but coxcombs are a jeft.
FABLE XXIIL
THE OLD WOMAN AND HER CATS.
WH O friendfhip with a knave hath made.
Is judg'd^ a partner in the trade.
The matron who condufts abroad
A willing nymph, is thought a bawd ;
And if a modeft girl is feen
With one who cures a lover's fpleen.
We guefs her not extremely nice.
And only wifh to know her price.
'Tis thus that on the choice of friends
Our good or evil name depends.
A wrinkled Hag, of wicked fame,.
Befide a little fmoaky flame
Sat
■••«■
'64 ' FABLKS.
Sat hovVing, pinch'd with age and froft ;
'^ Her fliriVeird hands, with veins embofs'd.
Upon her knees her weight fufliains.
While palfy (hook her crazy brains :
She mumbles forth her backward pray'rs.
An untam'd fcold of fourfcore years.
About her fwarm'd a numerous brood
Of Cats, who lank with hunger mew'd.
Teaz'd with their cries, her choler grew.
And thus (he fputter'd. Hence ye crcw^
Fool that I was, to entertain
Such imps^ fuch fiends, a helliih train !
Had ye been never housed and nurs'd,.
I, for a witch had ne'er been curs'd.
To you I owe, that crouds of boys
^ Worry me with eternal noife ;
Straws laid acrofe, my pace retard^
The horfc-ftioe's nailed (each threfhold*s^
guard)
The ftunted broom the wenches hide.
For fear that I fhould up and ride ;
They
'.n
FABLi: 3XIV.
FABLE XSV.
• * FABLES. , 65
They ftick with pins my bleeding feat.
And bid me fliew my fccret teat.
To hear you prate would vex a faint ;
Who hath moft reafon of complaint ?
Replies a Cat. Let s come j:o proof.
Had we ne'er ftarv'd beneath your roo^
We had^ like others of our race.
In credit liv'd as beafts of chafe.
'Tis infamy to ferve a hag ;
Cats are thought imps, her brooni a nag;
And boys againft our lives combine,
Becaufe, 'tis faid you cats have nine.
FABLE XXIV.
A
THE BUTTERFLY AND THE SNAIL.
LL upftarts infolent in place.
Remind us of their vulgar race,^
As, in the funfhine of the morn,
A Butterfly (but newly born)
F Sat
66 FABLEd.
Sat proudly perking on a rofe ;
With pert conceit his bofom glows j
His wings (all-glorious to behold)
Bedropt with azure, jet and gold.
Wide he difplays ; the fpangled dew
Reflefts his eyes, and various hue.
His now-forgdtten friend a Snail,
Beneath his houfe, withflimy trail
Crawls o er the grafs; whom when he fpies.
In wrath he to the gardener cries t
What means yon peafant's daily toil.
From choaking weeds to'rid the foil?
Why wake you to tne morning's care ?
Why with new arts correft the year ?
Why glows the peach with crimfon hue ?
And why the plumb's inviting blue ;
Were they to feaft hfe tafte defign'd
That vermin of voracious kind ?
Crufh then the flow, the pilf ring race ;
Scr^ge thy garden from difgrace.
What
FABLES. 67
What arrogance ! the Snail reply *d;
How infolent is upftart pride !
Had*ft thou not thus with infult vain,
Provok'd my patience to complain,
I had conceal-d thy meaner birth.
Nor traced thee to the fcum of earth.
For fcarce nine funs have wak'd the hours.
To fwell the fruit, and paint the flow rs.
Since I thy humbler life furvey'd*
In bafe, in fordid guife array 'd j
A hideous infeS:, vile, unclean.
You dragg'4 a flow and noiibine train }
And from your fpider-bowels dr6w
Foul film, and fpun the dirty clue.
I own my humble life, good friend ;
Snail was I born, and Snail fliall endi^
And whatV a Butterfly ? At befl;^
He*s but a caterpillar, drefl; ;
And all thy race (a numerous feed)
Shall prove of caterpillar breed.
Ft FABLE
68 FABLES.
FABLE XXV.
THE SCOLD AND THE PARROT.
nPHE hufband thus reprov'd his wife :
Who deals in flander, lives in ftrife.
Art thou the herald of difgrace.
Denouncing war to all thy race ?
Can nothing quell thy thunder's rage.
Which fpares no friend, nor fex, nor age ?
That vixen tongue of your's, my dear.
Alarms our neighbours far and near.
Good Gods! 'tis like a rolling river.
That murm'ring flows, and flows for ever !
Ne'er tir'd, perpetual difcord fowing !
Like fame, it gathers flrength by going.
Heighday ! the flippant tongue replies.
How folemn is the fool, how wife !
Is nature's choicefl gift debarr'd ?
Nay, frown not ; for I will be heard.
Women of late are finely ridden,
A Parrot's privilege forbidden !
You
FABLES. 6g
You praife his talk, his fqualling fong ;
But wives are always in the wrong.
Now reputations flew in pieces.
Of mothers, daughters, aunts, and nieces.
She ran the Parrot's language o'er.
Bawd, huffy, drunkard, flattern, whore;
On all the fex fhe vents her fury.
Tries and condemns without a jury.
At once the torrent of her words
Alarm'd cat, monkey, dogs and birds :
All join their forces to confound her ;
Pufs fpits, the monkey chatters round her :
The yelping cur her heels affaults ; ,
The magpye blabs out all her faults $
Poll, in the uproar, from his cage.
With this rebuke out-fcream'd her rage.
A Parrot is for talking priz'd.
But prattling women are defpis'd.
She who attacks another's honour.
Draws every living thing upon her.
Thinkj Madam, when you ftretch your lungs.
That all your neighbours too have tongues.
F 3 One
^O F AB I.E S»
One flander mull ten thoufand get.
The world with int'reft pajrs the debt*
FABLE XXVI,
THE CUK AND THE MASTIFF*
A SNEAKING Cur, the niaftcr's fyy.
Rewarded for his daily lie.
With iecrit jealpufJesi and fcara
Set all together by the ears. .
Poor Pufs to-day was in difgrace.
Another cat fupply'd her place ;
The hound was beat,^^ the MaftifF chid^
The monkey was the room forbid ;
Each to his deareft friend grew fliy.
And none could tell the reafoh why,
• .1
A plan to rob the houfe was laid
The thief with love feduc'd the, maid }
Cajord the Cur, and ftrok'd his head.
And bought his fecrefy with bread.
He
FABLE XXVI.
i
i
i'
' ■ FABtE XXVII.
}
1
< *
I A9LES 71
He next the iMlaftifF's honour try'd,
"WhQfe honcfl jaws the bribe defy'd.
He ftretch'd his hand to proffer more ;
The furly dog his fingers tore.
Swift ran the Cur ; widi indignation
The mafter took his information.
Hang him, the villain s curs'd, he cries ;
And round his neck the halter ties.
The Dog his humble fuit preferr'd.
And begg'd in juftice to be heard.
The mafter fat. On 'either hand .
• - - I
The cited dogs confronting ftand ;
The Cur the bloody tale relates.
And, like a lawyer, aggravates.
Judge not unheard, the Maftiff cry 'd,
But weigh the caufe of either fide.
Think not that treach ry can be juft.
Take not informers words on truft;
They ope their hand to ev ry pay,
»
And you and me by turns betray.
F4 He
72 FABLES*
He fpoke. And all the truth appcar'd.
The Cur was hang'd, the MaftifF clear'd.
FABLE XXVII.
THE SICK MAN AND THE ANGEL.
T S there no hope ? the fick man faid.
^ The filent doftor fliook his head.
And took his leave with figns of forrow,
Defpairing of his fee to-morrow.
When thus the Man with gafping breath ;
I feel the chilling wound of death : *
Since I muft bid the world adieu.
Let me my former life review.
I grant, my bargains well were made.
But all men over-reach in trade ;
*Tis felf- defence in each profeflion.
Sure felf-defence is no tranfgreffion. .
The
FABLES* ^3
The little portion in my hands.
By good fecurity on lands.
Is well increased. IfMmaw^ares, . .
My juftice to myfelf and heirs,
Hath let my debtor rot in jail.
For warit of good fufficient bail ; ..
If I by writ, or bond or deed,
Reduc'd a femily to need.
My will hath made the world amends ; .
My hope on charity depends.
When I aim numbered with the dea4^ ,, ;
And all my pious gifts are read.
By heav n and earth 'twill then be kitowh.
My charities were amply fliown.
: . An. Angel came* Ah friend ! he cry 'd.
No more in flatt'ring hope confide.
Can thy good deeds in former times
Outweigh the balance of thy crimes ?
What widow or what orphan prays
To crown thy life with length of days ?
A piou^
^4 FABXES.
A pious aftion's in thy power.
Embrace with joy the happy hour.
Now, while you draw the vital air*
Prove your intention is fincere*
This inftant give a hundred pound ; .
Your neighbours want, and you abound* .
But why fuch hafte the fick man whines ?
Who knows as yet what heav'n defigns ?
Perhaps I may recover ftili.
That fum and more are in my will, •
. Fool, fays the Vifion, now 'tis plain,
Your life, your foul, your heav n was gain.
From evVy fide, with all your might.
You fcrap'd, and fcrap'd beyond your right i
And after death would fain atone.
By giving what is not your own.
While there is life, there's hope, he cry'd ;
Then why fuch hafte ? fo groan'd and dy'd*
{
\
FABLE
r-ABliE 2XVIII.
FABLE XXIX.
r
F ABLES*
75
FABLE xxvirn
THE PERSIAN, THE SUN, ANP THE CLOUD.
IS there a bard whom genius fires.
Whole ev ry thought the God infpires ?
When envy reads the nervous lines,
.*' ■ • •
She frets, (he rails, Jhe raves, fhe pines ; -
Her- hiffing fnakes with venom fwdl ;
She calls her venal train from hell ;
The fervile fiends her nod obey.
And all C\5 r t's authors are in pay.
Fame calls up calun^ny and fpite. ;
Thus fhadow owes its birth to light.
As proftrate to the God of Day,
With heart devout, a Perfian lay.
His invocation thiis begun.
Parent of light, all-feeing Sun,
Prolific beam, whofe rays difpenfe .
The various gifts of providence.
Accept
y6 FABLES.
Accept our praife, our daily prayer.
Smile on our fields, and blefs the year.
A Cloud, who mock'd his grateful tongue.
The day with fudden darknefs hung;
With pride and envy fwell'd aloud,
A voice thus thunder'd from the Cloud.
Weak is this gaudy God of thine.
Whom I at will forbid to fhine.
Shall I nor vows, nor incenfe know ?
Where praife is due, the praife bellow.
With fervent zeal the Perfian mov'd.
Thus the proud calumny reprov'd.
It was that God, who claims my prayV,
Who gave thee birth, and rais'd thee there ;
When o*er his beams the veil is thrown.
Thy fubftance is but plainer fliown*
A pafling gale, a puff of yiind
Difpels thy thickeft troops combin d.
The gale arofe ; the vapour toft
(The fport of winds) in air was loft ;
The
FABLES. 77
The glorious orb the day refines.
Thus envy breaks, thus merit Ihines.
FABLE XXIX.
THE FOX AT THE POINT OF DEATH.
A FOX, in life's extreme decay.
Weak, fick, and faint, expiring lay ;
All appetite had left his maw.
And age difarm'd his mumbling jaw.
His numVous race around him ftand
To learn their dying fire's command:
He rais'd his head with whining moan,
' • ♦
And thus was heard the feeble tone.
Ah, fons ! from evil ways depart :
My crimes lie heavy on my heart.
See, fee, the murder'^d geefe appear \
Why are thofe bleeding turkeys there?
Why all around this cackling train.
Who haiint my ears for chicken flain ?
The
The hungry foxes round them ftaf*d,
And for the promised feafl; prepared.
/
Where, Sir, is all this dainty cheer ?
Nor turkey, goofe, nor hen is here.
Thefe are the phantoms of your brain.
And your fons lick their lips in vain.
O gluttons ! fays the drooping fire^
Reftrain inordinate defire.
Your liqu'rifh taftc you fhall deplore.
When peace of confcience is no. more*
Does not the hound betray our pace.
And gins and guns deftroy our race ?
Thieves dread the fearching eye of powV,
And never feel the quiet hour.
Old age (which few of us fhall know)
Now puts a period to my woe.
Would you true happinefs attain.
Let honefty your paffions rein ;
So live in credit and efleem.
And the good name you loft, rexleem,
The
FABL£S* 5»
The counfel's good, a Fox replies,
Could we perform what you advife.
Think what pur anceftors have done ;
A line of thieves from fon to fon ;
To us defcends the long difgrace.
And infamy hath marked our race.
Though we, like harmlcfs fheep, ilK>uld feed.
Honed in thought, in word, and deed j
Whatever hen-rooft is decreased.
We fhall be thought to Ihare the feaft.
The change fliall never be believed*.
A loft good name is »e'er retrieved*
Nay^ then replies the feeble For,
(But hark ! I hear a hen that clocks)
Go, but be mod rate in your food ;
A Chicken too might do me good.
FABLE
8o FABLE 3*
FABLE XXX.
THE SETTING-DOG AKD THE PARTRIDGE,
nPHE ranging Dog the Hubble tries.
And fearches ev'ry breeze that Qics ;
The fcent grows warm ; with cautious fear
He creeps, and points the covey near;
The men, in filence, far behind,
Confcious of game, the net unbind.
^A Partridge, with experience wife.
The fraudfui preparation fpies :
She mocks their toils, alarms her brood j
The covey fprings, and feeks the wood ; '
But ere her certain wing fhe tries.
Thus to the creeping fpaniel cries.
Thou fawning flave to man's deceit.
Thou pimp of luxury, fneaking cheat.
Of
IFABIL-E XXX.
fABLE XXXi.
^ *■
FA3LES. 8i
Of thy whole fpecies thou difgrace, '
Dogs (hall difown thee of their race!
For if I judge their native parts, ' ^ '
They're born with open honed hearth ;
And, ere they ferve man's wicked ends.
Were gen'rous foes, or real friends,
« • « i
• 4
When thus the Dog with fcornful fmile :
Secure of wiiig, thou dar'fl revile.
Clowns are to polifli'd manners blind.
How ign'rant is the ruftic mind !
• • • . .
My worth, fagacious courtiers fee.
And to preferment rife, like mci - ^^ *
The thriving pimp j who beauty fets.
Hath oft- enhahc'd a nation's debts : - :
Friend fets his friend, without regard";
And minifters his fkill reward :
Thus train'd by man, I learnt his ways.
And growing favour feafts my days. -
4
I might have guefs'd the Partridge faid,
The place where you were train'd and fed ;
G Servants
l82 .CABLES*
Servants are sipt, ^d in a triec
Ape to a hair their mailer's Vice*
You camq from court, you fay. Adieu,
She faid, aad to the covfey flew.
FABLE XXXI.
THE UNIVERSAL APPARITION.
A RAKE, by ey'ry paflion rul'd,
"^ With ev'ry vice his youth had cool'd ;
Difeafe his tainted blood aifails ;
His fpirits droop, his vigour f^M^s :
With fecret ills at home he pines>
Anfi« like infirm old age, declines.
• ' ' '
^ A«5 twiftgU with pain, he penfive fits, ;
And raves, and prays, and fwears by fits ;
A ghailly phantom, lean and wan,
^Before him rofe, and thus began.
r
* i A w
My
My n^Hie, perh^ps^ hath reached your egu-i
Attend,. s^nd be advis'd by Care..
Nor love, nor honour, wealth, nor pow'r,
Ca|i ,giye the heart a cheerful hour.
When health is loft. Be timely ^vife ;
With^health alltafte of pleafure fli^s.
Thus faid, the phantom difappeaw.
Jhe wary counfel wak*4 his fears ;
He now from all excefs abftains,
With.phyfici purifies his veins ;
And, to procure a fober life,
Refolves to venture on a wifeii i
But jK>w. again tbe Sprite jaCcends,
Where'er he walks his ear attends ;
Iniinuates that beauty's frail.
That perfeverance muft prevail ; .
With jealoulies his brain inflames.
And whifpers all her lovers names.
In other hours Ihe reprefents
His hou&osld charge, his annual rents,
G 2 Increafing
84 FABLES. «
Incrcafing debts^ perplexing duns^
And nothing for his younger fons.
Strait all his thought to gain he turns.
And with the third of lucre burns.
But when poflefs'd of fortune's (lore.
The Speftre haunts him more and more ;
Sets want and mifery in view.
Bold thieves, and all the murd'ring crew.
Alarms him with eternal frights,
Infefts his dream, or wakes his nights.
How (hall he chafe this hideous gueft ?
Pow'r may perhaps proteft his reft.
To pow*r he rofe. Again the Sprite
Befets him morning, noon and night !
Talks of Ambition's tott'ring feat.
How Envy perfecutes the great.
Of rival hate, of treach'rous friends.
And what difgrace his fall attends.
I
The court he quits to fly from Care,
And feeks the peace of rural air:
His
r
Fab ILK sxxM.
FAB1L.K JUOUI.
FABLES. 85
His groves, his fields, amus'd his Hours ;
He pruned his trees, he rais'd his flowers.
But Care again his fteps purfiies -r \
Warns him of blafts, of blighting dews.
Of plundering infefts, fhails and rains;
And droughts that flar v'd the laboured plains*
Abroad, at home, the Speftre's thqre,:
In vain we feek to fly from Care. '
At length he thus the Ghofl; addrefl:.
Since thou mufl; be my conft;ant guefl:, . "
Be kind, and follow me no more ;
For Care by right fliould go before.
FOIBLE XXXII.
THE TWO OWLS AND THE SPARROW.
nnWO formal Owls together fat.
Conferring thus in fblemn chat.
How is the modern tafte decay 'd !
Where's the refpeft to wifdom paid ?
G 3 Our
S6 FABLES.
Our worth the Grecian fage$ knfew ;
They gave our fires the honour due ;
They weighed the dignity of fowls.
And pry'd into the depth of Owls.
Athens, the feat of learned fame.
With general voice rever'd our name ;
On merit, title was conferred.
And all ador'd th' Athenian bird.
Brother, you reafon well, repli^
The folemn mate, with half-(hut eyes ;
Right. Athcins was the feat of learning.
And truly wifdom is difcerning.
Befides^ on Pallas' helm we fit.
The type and ornament of wit :
But now, alas ! we're quite neglefted.
And a pert Sparrow's more refpefted.
A Sparrow, who was lodg'd befide,
O'erhears them footh each other's pride.
And thus he nimbly vents his heat.
Who meets a fool muft find conceit.
I grant.
F A 3X E S. 87
I grant, you were at Athens grac'd.
And on Minerva's helm were plac'd ;
But ev'ry bir4 that wings tfic fkyi:
Except an Owl, can tell you why.
From heoce they taught their fchoois to know
How falfe we judge by outward fhow ;
That we Should never loo^s eft^m.
Since fools as wife as you plight feen?. '
Would. ye contempt and fcorn avoid.
Let your vain-glory be ^eftroy'd :
Humble your arrogance of thougli^
Purfue the ways by Nature t^t^^t';
So fhall you find delicious fare.
And grateful fanners praife ypur qare :
So Ihall fleek mice your chace reward.
And no keen cat find more regard.
G 4 FABLE
88 TAstis,
1- *i
FABLE XXXIIL i.
' THE COURTIER AND tROTEUSik
• " * 1
J • • ■ « .
WHENE'ER a courtier's out of place,
•The country {belters his difgnui:e ;
Where, dooih'd to exercife and health.
His houfe and gardens own his wealthy ;
He builds hcjw fcliemes in hopes to gain
The plunder of another reign;
Like Philip's Ton, would fain be doing.
And fighs for other realms to r liih.
• • . »
As one of thefe (without his wand)
Penfive, along the winding ftrand
Employed the folitary hour.
In projefts to regain his pow'r-,
The waves in fpreading circles ran,
Proteus arofe, and thus began.
Came
FABLES. 89
Came you from Court ? For in your mien
A felf-important air is feen.
He frankly own'd his friends had trick'd
him.
And how he 'fell his party's vidim.
Know, fays the God, by matchle£s (kill
I change to ev'ry fhape at will ;
But yet Tm told, at court you fee
Thofe who prcfume to rival me.
Thus faid, A fnake with hideous trail,
Proteus extends his fcaly mail.
Know, fays the man, though proud m
place.
All courtiers are of reptile race.
Like you, they take that dreadful form.
Balk in the fun, and fly the ftorm ;
With malice hifs, with envy glote.
And for convenience change their coat ;
With
go < FABLES*
With new-got luftre rear their head^
Though on a dunghil boro and bred.
Sudden the God a lion (lands ;
He (hakes his mane, he fpurns the fands ;
Now a fierce lynx, with fiery glare>
A wolf, an afs, a fox, a bear.
/■
t h 9
(
Had I ne'er liv'd at court, he cries.
Such transformation might furprife ;
But there, in queft of daily game^
Each able courtier a6ls the fame.
Wolves, lions,..lynxes, while in place.
Their friends and fellows are theiip ch afe*
They play the bear's and fox*s part ;
Now yob by force, now (teal with art.
They fometimes m the fenate bray ;
Or, chang'd again to beads of prey,
Down from the lion to the ape,
Praftife the frauds of ev'ry (hape.
Sa
I
FAB1.E XXXIK
FAB1.E XXXK
So ftid, upcm the Gkni he flies.
In cords the ftruggling captive ties*
Now,. PrdteujSf, now, (to truth compeU'xiy
Speak, and confefs thy art ejocell'd^ : '
Ufe ftrengthji furprife, or what jrou wiH,,
The courtier finds evafipns ftill ;
Not to be jb^ound'by suiy ties.
And never forc'd 4» leave his Ues»
r
> I
FABLE XXXIV.
THE MASTIFFS*
'X'HpSE wha h) qtiarrels iiWerpofis,,
Maft often wipi^ 9 Uoddy: nofe;.
A MaftifF, of true Englifh bloody
Lov'd fighting better than his kiod.
When doggi were fn4tling for a bone^^
Helorig'd to make the war his own.
»■ *A
i
And
And often found (when two contend)
To interpofe obtained his end ;
He glory'd in his limping pace ;
The fears of honour feam'd his face ;
In ev*ry limb a gafh appears.
And frequent fights retrenched his ears.
As, on a time, he heard from far
Two dogs engag'd in noify war.
Away he fcours and lays about him,
Refplv'd no fray fhould be without him*
Forth from his yard a tanner flies.
And to the bold intruder cries,
*
A cudgel (hall correft your manners.
Whence fprung this curfed hate to tanners?
While on my dog you vent your fpite.
Sirrah ! 'tis me you dare not bite.
To fee the battle thus perplex'd.
With equal rage a butcher vex'd,
Hoarfe* ^
F A B L E S» 93
Hoarfe-fcreaming from the circled crowd.
To the curs'd MaftiflF cries aloud.
Both Hockley-hole and Mary-bone
The combats of my Dog have known*
He ne'er, like bullies coward-heartpd^.
Attacks in public,. to be parted. .. .
Think not, raflifpol, to fliai^e his fame ;
Be his the honour or the fliame.
Thus faid, thby fwore^ and rav'd like
thunder;
Then dragg'd their faften'd dogs afunder ;
While clubs and kicks from every fide
Rebounded from the MaftifFs hide.
All reeking now with fweat and blood.
Awhile the parted warriors flood,
Then pour'd upon the meddling foe ; •
Who, worried, howVd and fprawl'd below*
He rofe ; and limping from the fray.
By both fides mangled, fneak'd away.
FABLE
^ FABLES.
FABLE XXXV.
THfe BARLEY-MOW ANbTHE DaNGHlL.
TJOW inany faucy airs we meet
From Temple bar to Aldgate Ibeet ? '
Proud rogues, who fhar'd the South-Sea prey.
And fprung like muflirooms in a day !
They think it mean» to condefcend
^6 kiiow a* brother or a.friend; : / ^
They blulh to hear their mother's riame.
And by their pride expofe their (hame»
As crofs his yard, at early day,
A careful farmer took his way.
He ftopp'd, and leaning on his fork, - *
Obfery'd the flail's inceflant work.
In thiought he meafur'd all his ftore,
His geefe, his hogs, he numberU o'er ;
In fancy weigh'd the fleeces ftiorn,
Andmultiply'd the next year's cprn^ ^
« * ' • « » «
A Barley-
FABLES;. <5g
A Barley-mow, which flood befidc.
Thus to its mufing mailer cry'd.
Say^: good Sir, is it fit or right -
To treat me with negleft and flight ?
Me, \\rho contribute to ypur cheer.
And raife your mirth with ale and beer f
Why thus infulted, thus difgrac'd.
And that vile Bunghil n?ar m^ pl?.cU ?
Are thofe poor fweepings of a groom,: T
That filthy fight, that rnaufeous fume.
Meet objefts here ? Command <it hence:
A thing fo mean muft give offence.
r ' .
The humble Dunghil thus reply 'd, ^
Thy mafter hears, and mocks thy pride ^.
Infult not thus the meek and low;
In me thy benefaclor know ;
My warm affiftance gave thee birth.
Or thou hadft perifli'd low in earth ; c
But upftarts, to fupport their ftation, ;
Cancel lit once all obligation,
FABLE
giS r ABLE S«
FABLE XXXVI.
PYTHAGORAS AND THE COUNTRYMAW*
T>YTH AG'RAS rofe at early dawn.
By foaring meditation drawn.
To breathe the fragrance of the day.
Through flowVy fields he took his way.
In mufing contemplation warm.
His fteps mifled him to a farm.
Where, on the ladder's topmoft round,
A pcafant flood ; the hammer's found
Shook the weak barn. Say, friend, what care
Calls for thy honeft labour there ?
The Clown, with furly voice replies.
Vengeance aloud for juftice cries.
This kite, by daily rapine fed.
My hens annoy, my turkeys dread.
At length his forfeit life has paid ;
Sec on the wall hiswings difplay'd.
Here %
- ;: «
EABI.E XXXyi. •
FAXliE XXXVH.
^1C
FABLES*, 07
Here nail'd, a terror to his kind,
My fowls fliall future fafety find ;
My yard the thriving poultry feed.
And my barn's refufc fat the breed*
^ Friend, fays the Sage, the doom is wife;
For public good the ttiurd'rer dies.
But if thefe tyrants of the air
Demand a fentence fo fevere, -
Think how the glutton man devours ;
What bloody feafls regale his hours !
O, impudence of power and might.
Thus to condemn a hawk or kite.
When thou, perhaps, carnivVous finner,
^ Hadfl pullets yefterday for dinner !
Hold,cry'dtbeClown, with paffion heated.
Shall kites and men alike be treated ?
When heav'n the wdtld with creatures ftor*d,
Man was ordain'd their fovVeign Xord.
Thus tyrants boaft, the Sage reply *d,
Whofe murders fpring from power andpride*
H Owa
. II
98 FABLES*
Own then this manlike kite is flain
♦
Thy greater luxVy to fuftain ;
For* " Petty rogues fubmit to fate,
" That great ones may enjoy their ftate.*^
• Garth's Dispensary.
FABLE XXXVIL
THE farmer's wife AND THE RAVEN.
W'HY are thofe tears ? why droops your
head?
Is then your other hufband dead ?
Or does a worfe difgrace betide ?
Hath no one fince his death apply'd ?
Alas!
J* A B L E S. ' gg
Alas ! you know the caufe too well :
The fait is fpilt, to me it felL
Then, to contribute to my lofs.
My knife and fork were laid acrofs ;
On Friday too ! the day I dread !
Would I were fafe at home in bed !
Laft night (I vow to heav'n 'tis true)
Bounce from the fire a coffin flew.
Next poll fome fatal news fliall tell,
God fend^my Cornifh friends be well !
Unhappy widow, ceafe thy tears.
Nor feel affliftion in thy fears.
Let not thy ftomach be fufpended ;
Eat now, and weep when dinner's ended ;
And when the butler clears the table,
For thy defert, I'll read my fable.
Betwixt her fwagging panniers load
A farmer s wife to market rode,
And, jogging on, with thoughtful care
Summ'd up the profits of her ware ;
H2 When,
lOO FABLES.
When, ftarting from her filver dream.
Thus far and wide was heard her fcream^
That raven on yon left-hand oak
(Curfe on his ill-betiding croak)
Bodes me no good. No more flie faid.
When poor blind Ball, with ftumbling tread.
Fell prone ; o'erturn'd the pannier lay.
And her malh'd eggs beftrow'd the way.
She, fprawling in the yellow road,
Rail'd, fwore and curs'd. Thou croaking
toad,
A murrain take thy whorefon throat!
I knew misfortune in the note.
Dame, quoth the Raven, fpare your oaths.
Unclench your fift, and wipe your cloaths.
But why on me thofe curfes thrown ?
Goody, the fault was all your own ;
For had you laid this brittle ware.
On Dun, the old fure-footed mare.
Though
y^
■k-sgj-
FabijE loosym.^
Fable jcoox.
FABLES. 101
Though all the Ravens of the hundred, ,
With croaking had your tongue out-thun-
der'd,
Sure-footed Dun had kept his legs.
And you, good woman, fav'd your eggs.
FABLE XXXVIIL
THE TURKEY AND THE ANT.
»
N othor men we faults can fpy.
And blame the moat that dims their eye,
Each little fpeck and blemifh find.
To our own ftronger errors blind.
I
A Turkey tir'd of common food,
Forfook the barn, and fought the wood ;
Behind her ran her infant train,
Golle6ling here and there a grain.
Draw near, my birds, the mother cries,*
This hill delicious fare fupplies ;
H3 Behold,
102 FABLES.
Behold, the bufy Negro race.
See, miUions blacken all the place ?
Fear not. Like me with freedom eat ;
An Ant is moft delightful meat.
How blefs'd, how envy'd were our life,
m
Could we but Tcape the poult rer's knife !
But man, curs'd man, on Turkeys preys.
And Chriflmas fhortens all our days :
Sometimes with oyfters we combine.
Sometimes affift the fav ry chine.
From the low peafant to the lord.
The Turkey fmokes on ev ry board.
Sure men for gluttony are curs'd.
Of the fev n deadly fins the worft.
An Ant, who clim'b beyond his reach.
Thus anfwer'd from the neighb 'ring beech.
Ere you remark another's fin, ,
Bid thy own confcience look within ;
. Controul thy more voracious bill.
Nor for a breakfaft nations kill,
FABLE
FABLES. T03
FABLE XXXIX.
THE FATHER AND JUPITER.
^ I ''HE man to Jove his fuit preferr'd ;
• He begged a wife. His prayer was
heard.
Jove wonder'd at his bold addrefling:
For how precarious is the blefling !
A wife he takes. And now for heirs
Again he worries heav'n with prayers.
Jove nods aflent. Two- hopeful boys
And a fine girl reward his joys.
Now, more folicitous he grew.
And fet their future lives in view ;
He faw that all refpeft and duty
Were paid to wealth, to pow'r, and beauty.
H4 Once
Ip4 f A B L £ S.
Once more, he cries, accept my prayer ;
Make my lov'd progeny thy care.
Let my firft hope, my fav'rite boy.
All fortune's richeft gifts enjoy.
My next with ftrong ambition fire :
May favour teach him to afpire ;
Till he the ftep of powV afcend.
And courtier's to their idol bend.
With ev ry grace, with ev'ry charm.
My daughter's perfeft features arm.
If Heav'n approve, a Father's blefs'd.
Jove fmiles, and grants his full requeft.
The firft, a mifer at the heart.
Studious of ev'ry griping art.
Heaps hoards on hoards with anxious pain ;
And all his life devotes to gain.
He feels no joy, his cares increafe.
He neither wakes nor fleeps in peace;
In fancy 'd want (a wretch complete)
He ftarves, and yet he dares not eat.
The
FABL£S. 105
The next to fudden honours grew :
The thriving art of courts he knew :
He reached the height of powV and place ;
Then fell, the viflim of difgrace.
Beauty with early bloom fupplies.
His daughter's cheek, and points her eyes.
The vain coquette each fuit difdains.
And glories in her lover's pains.
With age fhe fades, each lover flies,
Contemn'd, forlorn, (he pines and dies.
When Jove the Father's grief furvey'd,
And heard him Heav'n and Fate upbraid.
Thus fpoke the God. By outward fliow.
Men judge of happinefs and woe :
Shall ignorance of good and ill
Dare to direft th' eternal will ?
Seek virtue ; and, of that pofleft.
To Providence refign the reft.
FABLE
106 FABLES.
FABLE XL,
THE TWO MONKEYS.
T^HE learned, full of inward pride.
The Fops of outward fhow deride ;
The Fop, with learning at defiance.
Scoffs at the pedant, and the fcience :
The Don, a formal, folemn ftrutter,
Defpifes Monfieur's airs and flutter ;
While Monfieur mocks the formal fool,
Who looks, and fpeaks, and walks by rule,
Britain, a medley of the twain.
As pert as France, as grave as Spam ;
In fancy wifer than the reft.
Laughs at them both, of both the jeft.
Is not the poet's chiming clofe
Cenfur'd by all the fons of profe?
While bards of quick imagination
Defpife the fleepy profe narration.
Men
FABXiE XL.
FABLE :kl,i.
»
1
FABLES. iQj
Men laugh at apes, they men contemn ;
For what are we, but Apes to them ?
Two Monkies went to Southwark fair.
No critics had a fourer air :
They forc'd their way through draggled
folks.
Who gap'd to catch Jack-pudding's jokes j
Then took their tickets for the fhow.
And got by chance, the fore mod row»
To fee their grave^ obferving face,
Frovpk'd a laugh throughout the place.
Brother, fays Pug, and turn'd his head.
.. The rabble's monftroufly ill bred.
Now through the booth loud hifles ran ;
Nor ended till the fhow began.
The tumbler whirls the flap-flap round.
With fomerfets he fliakes the ground ;
The cord beneath the dancer fprings ;
Aloft in air the vaulter fwings ;
Diftorted
108 TABLES.
Diftorted now, now prone depends.
Now through his twifted arms afcends :
The crowd, in wonder and deh'ght.
With clapping hands applaud the fight.
With fmiles, quoth Pug, if pranks like thefe
The giant Apes of reafon pleafe.
How would they wonder at our arts ;
They muft adore us for our parts.
High on the twig I've feen you cling ; .
Play, twift and turn in airy ring :
How can thofe clumfy things,* like me^
Fly with a bound from tree to tree ?
But yet, by this applaufe, we find
Thefe emulators of our kind
Difcern our worth, our parts regard.
Who our mean mimics thus reward.
Brother, the grinning mate replies.
In this I grant that Man is wife.
While good example they purfue.
We muft allow fome praife is due ;
But
FABLES. log
But when they ftrain beyond their guide,
I laugh to fcorn the mimic pride, f
For how fantaftic is the fight.
To meet men always bolt upright,
Becaufe we fometimes walk on two !
I hate the imitating crew.
FABLE XLL
THE OWL AND THE FARMER.
A N Owl of grave deport and mien.
Who (like the Turk) was feldom feen,
Within a barn had chofe his ftation.
As fit for prey and contemplation.
Upon a beam aloft he fits.
And nods, and feems to think by fits.
So have I feen a man of news.
Or Poft-boy, or Gazette perufe ;
Smoke, nod, and talk with voice profound.
And Ex the fate of Europe round.
Sheaves
110 FABLES.
Sheaves piUd on (heaves, hid all the floor*
At dawn of morn, to view his flore
The Farmer came. The hooting guefl
His felf-importance thus expreft.
Reafon in man is mere pretence :
How weak, how fhallow is his fenfe ?
To treat with fcorn the Bird of night,
Declares his folly, or his fpite.
Then too, how partial is his praife !
The lark's the linnet*s chirping lays
To his ill-judging ears are fine ;
And nightingales are all divine.
But the more knowing feathered race
See wifdom flamp'd upon my face.
Whene'er to vilit light I deign.
What flocks of fowl compofe my train !
Like flaves they croud my flight behind.
And own me of fuoerior kind.
The Farmer laugh 'd, and thus reply'd ;
Thou dull important lump of pride,
Dar'Il
FABLE XLH. •
FiUSL,E XLm.
FABLES. Ill
Dar'ft thou with that harlh grating tongue.
Depreciate birds of warbling fong ?
Indulge thy fpleen. Know men and fowl
Regard thee, as thou art an Owl.
Befides, proud Blockhead, be not vain.
Of what thou cairft thy flaves and train.
Few follow wifdom or her rules ;
Fools in derifion follow fools.
FABLE XLII.
THE JUGGLERS.
A JUGGLER long through all the town
Had raised his fortune and renown ;
You'd think (fo far his art tranfcends)
The devil at his fingers ends.
Vice heard his fame, fhe read his bill ;
Convinc'd of his inferior fkill.
She
|]2 FABLES.
She fought his booth, and from the crovrd
Dcfy'd the man of art aloud.
Is this then he fo fam'd for flight ?
Can this flow bungler cheat your fight !
Dares he with md difpute the prize ?
I leave it to impartial eyes.
Provok'd, the Juggler cry'd, 'tis done*
In fcience I fubmit to none.
Thus faid. — ^The cups and balls he play 'd ;
By turns, this here, that there, conveyed*
The cards, obedient to his words.
Are by a fillip turn'd to birds.
His little boxes change the grain:
Trick after trick deludes the train.
He fliakes his bag, he fliews all fair ;
His fingers fpreads, and nothing there;
Then bids it rain with fliowers of gold.
And now his iv'ry eggs are told.
But
t A B L E Si Ilg
when from thence the heri h6 draws,
Amaz'd fpe6l:ators hum applaufe.
Vice now ftept forth^ and took the plac6
With all the forms of his grimace.
This magic looking-glafsi fhe eries>
(There, hand it round) will charm your eyes*
Each eager eye the fight defir'd.
And ev'ry man himfelf admir'd*
Next to, a fenator addrefling ;
iSee this bank-note ; obferve the bleflling^
Breathe on the Bill. Heigh, pafs ! Tis gone.
Upon his lips a padlock fhone;
A fecond puff the magic broke.
The padlock vanifli'd^ and he fpoke*
Twelve bottles rang'd upon the board.
All full, with heady liquor ftor'd.
By clean conveyance difappear,
And now two bloody fwords are there.
i A purfe
114 FABLES.
A purfe flie to a thkf ekpos'd.
At once bis ready fingers clos'd ;
He opes his fift, the treafure's fled ;
Hie fees a halter in its dead.'
4
/
She bids ambition hold a wand ;
He grafps a hatchet in his hand.
A box of charity (he fliowsi
Blow here ; and a church-watden blows^
Tis vanilh'd with conveyance neat.
And on the table fmokes a treat.
Sheihakes the dice, the boards (he knocks.
And from all pockets fills her box.
She next a meagre rake addreft.
This pifture fee ; her fhape, her bread !
What youth, and what inviting eyes !
Hold her, and hftve her. With furprife.
His hand exposM a box of pills.
And a loud laugh proclaim'd his ills.
»
A counter.
f A fi Lfi S. XI5
A counter, in a mifer's hand.
Grew twenty guineas at command.
Slie bids his heir the fum retain.
And 'tis a counter now again.
A guinea with her touch you fee
Take ev'ry fliape, but Charity ;
And not one thing you faw, or drew,
But chang'd from what was firft in view.
ff
The Juggler now in grief of heart.
With this fubmiffion own'd her art.
Can I fuch matchlefs flight withftand !
How prafticc hath improv'd your hand I
But now and then I cheat the throng ;
You ev'ry day, and all day long.
1 2 FABLE
fi6
r A B L E 5«
FABLE XLIIL
THE COUNCIL OF HORSES.
T TPON a time a neighing fteed.
Who graz'd among a num'rous breed.
With mutiny had fir'd the train,
And fpread diflention through the plain.
Qn matters that concerned the ftate
The council met in grand debate.
A colt, whofe eye-balls flam*d with ire,
IClatc with flrength and youthful fire,
III hudc ftopt forth before the reft.
And thus the lift ning throng addreft-
Gvxxl Gi>d$ ! how abjcA is our race,
C\>udcn\u'd to flav n* and difgrace !
Shall \vc our fcrviiude retain,
Ucv^Aufo our fu^is have borac the chain?
Coaiider,
F>i B L E S. 117
Confider, friends, your ftrength and might;
'^Tis conqueft to aflcrt your right.
How cumbrous is the gilded coach !
The pride of man is our reproach.
Were we defign'd for daily toil.
To drag the plough-fhare through the foil.
To fweat in harnefs through the road.
To groan beneath the carrier's load ?
How feeble are the two legg'd kind !
What force is in our nerves conjbin d [
Shall then our nobler jaws fubmit
To foam and champ the galling bit ?
Shall haughty man my back beftride ?
Shall the fharp fpur provoke my fide ?
Forbid it, heav ns ! Rejeft the rein ;
Your fhame, your infamy difdain.
Let him the Lion firft controul.
And ftill the Tyger s famifli'd growL
Let us, like them, our freedom claim.
And make him tremble at our name.
A general nod approved the caufe.
And all the circle neigh'd applaufe.
1 3 ^ When,
fl8 FABL£S»
Wheti^ lo! with grave and ioleBin pace,
A Steed advanced before die race.
With age and long e2^>erience wile ;
Around he cafl his thoughtful eyes.
And, to the murmurs of the train^
Thus fpoke the Neftor erf the plain.
When I had health and ftrength, like yon.
The toils of fervitude I knew ;
Now grateful man rewards my pains.
And gives me all thefe wide domains.
At will I crop the year's increafe ;
My latter life is reft and peace.
I grant to man we lend our pains.
And aid him to correal the plains.
But doth not he divide the care.
Through all the labours of the year ?
How many thoufand ftruftures rife.
To fence us from inclement fkies !
For us he bears the fultry day.
And ftores up all our winter s hay.
He
7AB1>B XL-IT.
FABl^E XLV.
r
F A B L£ S .119
He fows, he reaps the harveft's gain ;
We (hare the toil, and (hare the grain.
Since evVy creature was decreed
To aid eajph Other's mutual need,
Appeafe yoif r discontented mind^ - .% . .
And a^ tibe part by heav'n affign'd.
The tumult ceas'd. The colt fubmitted.
And, like his anceftors, was bitted.
FABLE XLIV.
THE HOUND AND THE HUNTSMAN.
TMPERTINENCE ^t firft is borne
With Jbeedlefs flight, or fmiles of fcorn ;
Teaz'd into wrath, what patience bears
The noify fool who perfeveres ?
Themorning wakes, the Huntfman founds.
At once rufli forth the joyful hounds.
1 4 They
126 F A BXE 8.
They feek the wood with eager pace.
Through buflii through brier, explore the
chace.
Now fcatter d wide, they try the plain.
And fnufF the devtry turf in vain.
What care, what induftry, what pains !
What univerfal lilence reigns.
I )
Ringwood, a Dog of little fame.
Young, pert, and ignorant of game.
At once difplays his babbling throat j
The pack, regardlefs of the note,
Purfue the fcent; with louder ftrain
He ftill perfifts to vex the train.
The Huntfman to the clamour flies 4
The fmacking lafli he fmartly plies.
His ribs all welk'd, with howling tone
The puppy thus exprefs'd his moan.
I know the mulic of my tongue
Long fince the pack with envy ftung.
What
F A B L £ S. ' 121
What will not fpite ? Thefe bitteF fmarts
J owe to my fuperior parts.
When puppies prate, the Huntfman cry'd.
They fhow both ignorance and pri dfc ;
Fools may our fcorn, not envy raife,
for envy is a kind of pi*aife.
Had not thy forward noify tongue
Proclaim'd thee always in the wrong.
Thou might'ft have mingled with the reft.
And ne er thy foolifh nofe confeft.
But fools, to talking ever prone.
Are fure to make their follies known.
FABLE XLV.
THE POET AND THE ROSE.
I HATE the man who builds his name
On ruins of another's fame.
Thus prudes, by charafters overthrown.
Imagine that they raife their own.
Thus
JS9 FABLES*
Thus Scribblers, covetous of praife.
Think flander can tranfplant the bays*
Beauties and bards have equal pride.
With both all rivals are decry'd. .
Who praifes Lesbia s eyes and feature,
Muft call her filler, aukward creature j
For the kind flatt'ry's fure to charm.
When we fome other nymph difarm.
As in the cool of early day
A Poet fought the fweets of May,
The garden s fragrant breath afcends^
And evVy ftalk with odour bends.
A rofe he pluck'd, he gaz*d, admir d.
Thus finging as the Mufe infpir d*
Go, Rofe, my Chloe's bofom grace;
How happy (hould I prove.
Might I fupply that envy'd place
With never fading love !
There, Phoenix like, beneath her eye,
Involv'd in fragrance, burn and die !
Know,
r A B LE S* 123
Know, haplefs flow'r, that thou (halt find
More fragrant rofes there ;
I fee thy withering head reclin'd
With envy and defpair !
One common fate we both muft prove ;
You die with envy, I with love.
Spare your comparifons, reply'd
An angry Rofe, who grew befide.
Of all mankind, you (hould not flout us ;
What can a Poet do without us !
In ev'ry love-fbng roffes bloom ;
We lend you colour and perfume.
Does it to Chloe's charms conduce.
To found her praife on our abufe ?
Muft we, to flatter her, be made
To wither, envy, pine and fade ?
FABLE
1^4 ' 7 ABLCS.
FABLE XLVI,
the cur, the horse, and the ' '
shepherd's dog,
nPHE lad of alUfufficient merit,
. With modefty ne'er damps his fpirit ;
Prefuming on his own deferts.
On all alike his tongue exerts ;
His noify jokes at random throws.
And pertly fpatters friends and foes i
In wit and war the bully race
Contribute to their own difgrace.
Too late the forward youth fhall find
That jokes are fometimes paid in kind ;
Or if they canker in the bread.
He makes a foe who makes a jeft,
A village-cur, of fnappifh race.
The pcrtcll Puppy of the place.
Imagined
f^BI<E XLVJL~
FATB1L.1E XLVJI,
1
FABLES. / 12^
Imagined that his treble throat .
Was bleft with miific's fweeteft note '
In the mid road he bafking lay.
The yelping nuifance of the way ;
For not a creature pafs'd along,
But had a fample of his fong.
Soon as the trotting fteed he hears.
He ftarts, he cocks his dapper ears ;
Away he fcow'rs, affaults his hoof;
Now near him fnarls, now barks aloof;
With fhrill impertinence attends ;
Nor leaves him till the village ends*
It chanc'd, upon his evil day,
A Pad came pacing down the way :
The Cur, with never-ceafing tongue.
Upon the paffing travler fprung.
The Horfe, from fcorn provok'd to ire.
Flung backward ; rolling in the mire.
The Puppy howl'd, and bleeding lay ;
The Pad in peace purfu'd the way. ^
A Shepherd's
126 f A B L £ S.
A Shepherd's Dog, who faw the deed^
m
Detefting the vexatious breeds
Befpoke him thus. When doxcombs prate^
They kindle wrath, contempt, or hate ;
Thy teazing tongue had judgment ty'd.
Thou hadfi not,, like a Puppy, dy'd.
« <
FABLE XLVII.
THE COURT OF DEATH*
TJEATH, on a folemn night of ftate.
In all his pomp of terror fate :
Th' attendants of his gloomy reign,
Difeafes dire, a ghaftly train !
Croud the vaft Court. With hollow tone,
A voice thus thunder'd from the throne.
V
This night our minifter we name.
Let evVy fervant fpeak his claim ;
Merit
Merit (hall bear this ebon wand,
All, at the word, ftretch*d forth their hand«
Fever, with burning heat pofTcft,
Advanc'd, and for the wand addreft.
I to the weekly bills appeal.
Let thofe exprefs my fervent zeal ;
On ev'ry flight occafion near.
With violence I perfevere.
Next Gout appears with limping pace,
Pleads how he fliifts from place to place.
From head to foot how fwift he flies.
And evVy joint and finew plies ;
Still working when he feems fuppref^
A moft tenacigus flubborn guefl;.
A haggard Speflre from the crew
Crawls forth, and thus aflerts his du^*
Tis Iwho taint the fweeteft joy.
And in the Ihape of love deftroy :
My
r ^
128 FABLES.
My (hanks, funk eyes, and nofelefs faceV
Prove my pretenfion to the place;
Stone urg'd his ever-growing force.
And, nexti Confumption's ineagre corfe^
With feeble voice, that fcarce was heard.
Broke with fhort coughi, his fuit preferred;
Let none bbjeft my ling'riiig way^
I gain, like Fabius, by delay;
Fatigue and weaken ev*ry foe
By long attack, fecure, though flow;
Plague repreients his rapid power.
Who thinn'd a nation in an houn .
AH fpoke their claim, arid hop'd the waad
Now expeftation hufli'd thq, band/
When thus the Monarch from the throne.'
Merit >vas ever modeft known.
What, no Phyfician fpeak his right !
None here ! but fees their toils requite.
Let
FAB1.E 3E\"iII-
TAB LB XLIX,
FABLES. 129
«
Let then Intemperance take the wand.
Who fills with gold their zealous hand.
You, Fever, Gout, and all the reft,
( Whom wary men, as foes, deteft)
Forego your claim ; no more pretend ;
Intemperance is efteem'd a friend ;
He fhares their mirth, their focial joys.
And,: as a courted gueft, deftroys.
The charge on him muft juftly fall,
Who finds employment for you all.
FABLE' XLVIIL
THE GARDENER AND THE HOG.
A GARD'NER, of peculiar tafte,
On a young Hog his favour plac'd; '
Who fed not with the corjimonherd ;
His tray was to the hall preferred.
He wallow'd underneath the board.
Or in his matter's chamber fnor'd ;
K Who
l
130 FABLES.
X
Who fondly ftroak'd him ev'ry day.
And taught him all the puppy's play.
Where'er he went, the grunting friend
Ne'er fail'd his pleafure to attend.
As on a time, the loving pair
Walk'd forth to tend the garden's care.
The Mailer thus addrefs'd the Swine :
My houfe, my garden, all is thine.
On turnips feaft whene'er you pleafe.
And riot in my beans and peas ;
«
If the potatoe's tafte delights.
Or the red carrot's fweet invites.
Indulge thy morn and evening hours.
But let due care regard my flow'rs :
My tulips are my garden's pride.
What vaft expence thofe beds fupply'd!
The Hog by chance one morning roam'd.
Where with new ale the veffels foam'd.
He
Me munches now the fteaming gfains,^
Now with full fwill the liquor drains*
Intoxicating fUmes arife ;
He feels, he folh his winking eyeS j
Then ftagg'ring through the garden fcourii
And treads down painted ranks of flowerii
With delving frtOUt he tUrriS the foil^
And cools his palate with the fpoiL
The Maftef dame, the r\iin fpy*d^
Villain, fufpend thy rage, he cry'd.
Haft thou, thou moft ungrateful fot|
My charge^ ttiy only chafge forgot ?
What> all my flow'f s ! No more he faid^
But gaz'd> and iigh'd, and hung his head«
The Hog with fiiittVing fpeedh fetufnS J
Explain, Sir, why your anger burns*
Sec there^ untouched, your tulips ftrovyn^
For* I devoured the roots alone*
At this the Gardner's paifion grovel i
From oaths and threats he fell to blows.
Ra The
134 FABLES.
When I behold this glorious fliowj
And the wide wat'ry world below.
The fcaly people of the main ;
The bead; that range the wood or plain*
The wing'd inhabitants of air.
The day, the night, the various year.
And know all thefe by hcav'n defign'd
As gifts to pleafure human kind ;
I cannot raife' my worth too high ;
Of what vaft confequence am I !
Not of th' importance you fuppofe.
Replies a Flea upon his nofe.
Be humble, learn thyfelf to fcan ;
Know, pride was never made for Man.
*Tis vanity that fwells thy mind.
What, heav*n and earth for thee defigtfd \
For thee, made only for our need.
That more important Fleas might feed.
FAJ^tE
y
F A B L B S.
135
FABLE L.
THE HARE AND MANY FRIENDS.
pRIENDSHIP, like love, is but a name,
Unlcfs to one you Hint the flame.
The child, whom many fathers fliare.
Hath feldom known a father's care.
'Tis thus in friendfhips ; who depend
On many, rarely find a friend,
A Hare, who in a civil way.
Comply 'd with ev ry thing, like Gay,
Was known by all the beftial train
Who haunt the wood, or graze the plain.
Her care was, never to offend.
And ev'ry creature was her friend.
As forth flie went at early dawn.
To tafte the dew-befprinkled lawn,
K 4 Behind
13^ FABLES.
Behind fhe hears the hunter's cries.
And from the deep-mouth'd thunder flies.
She ftarts, fhe Hops, fhe pants for breath ;
She hears the near advance of death ;
She doubles to miflead the hound.
And meafures back her mazy round ;
Till fainting in the public way.
Half-dead with fear, fhe gafping lay,
What tranfport in her bofom grew.
When firft the Horfe appeared in view \
Let me, fays fhe, your back afcend^
And owe my fafcty to a friend.
You know my feet betray my flight j
To friendfhip every burden's light.
The Horfe reply'd — Poor honefl; Pufs,
It grieves my heart to fee thee thus;
Be comforted, relief is near ;
For all your friends are in the rear.
She next the flately Bull implor'd ;
And thus replied the mighty Lord —
Since
FABLES. ig;^
Since ev'ry bead alive can tell »
That I fincerely wifli you well,
I may, without offence, pretend
To take the freedom of a friend.
Love calls me hence ; a fav Vite cow
Expels me near yon barley mow j
And when a lady's in the cafe.
You know, all other things give place*
To leave you thus might feem unkind ;
But fee, the Goat is juft behind*
The Goat remarked her pulfe was higb.
Her languid head, her heavy eye ;
My back, fays he, may do you harm ;
The Sheep's at hand, and wool is warm.
The Sheep was feeble, and complained
His fides a load of wool fuftain'd :
Said he was flow, confefs'd his fears ;
For hounds eat Sheep, as well as Hares,
She now the trotting Calf addrefs'd.
To fave from death a friend diftrefs'd.
Shall
140 FABLES.
Shall I, fays he, of tender age.
In this important care engage ?
Older and abler pafs'd you by ;
How ftrong are thofe ! how weak am I !
Should I prefume to bear you hence,
Thofe friends of mine may take oflfence.
Excufe me then. You know my heart.
But deareft friends, alas ! muft part.
How fhall we all lament ! Adieu !
For fee the hounds are juft in view.
END OF THE FIRST FART,
FABLES
BV THE LATE
Mr. gay.
PART THE SECOND,
ADVERTISEMENT.
T
H£S£ Fables were finiflied by Mr. Gat, and in«
tended for the prefs; a fliort time before his death ; when
they were left, with his other papers, to the care of his
noble friend and patron the Duke of Queensberry,
His Grace has accordingly permitted them to the prefs, and
they arc here printed from the originals in the author's own
band-writing. We hope they will pleafe equally with his
former Fables, though moftly on fubjefts of a graver and
more political turn. They will certainly fliew him to have
been (what he efteemed the bed charafter) a man of a truly
boneft heart, and a fincerc lover of bis country.
\
FABLES.
t •
PART THE SECOND,
FABLE L
.» I
THE DOG ANt) THE FOX-
TO A LAWYER,
T KNOW you Lawyers, can with eafe,
Twift words and meanings as you pleafe ;
That language, by your (kill made pliant.
Will bend to favour ev'ry client ;
That 'tis the fee direfts the fenfe.
To make out either fide's pretence.
. . • ♦ •
When you perufe the cleareft cafe.
You fee it with a double face :
For fcepticifm's your profeffion ;
You hold there's doubt in all expreffioii.
Hence
144 t AtiLti.
Hence is tht bar with fees fupply^^
Hence eloquence takes either fide.
Your hand would have but paJtry gleaning^
Could ev^y man exprefs his nieaning^
Who dares prefume to peri a deed,*
Unlefs you previoufly are fee'c^ ?
TTis drawn; and, to augment the Cfoft^
In dull prolixity ingrofs*d.
And now weVe well fedur'd by law.
Till the next brother find a flaw.
Read o'er a Will. Was't ever known^
But you could make the will your own ;
for when you read, 'tis with intent
To find out meanings never meant.
Since things are thus, fe defendendo^
I bar fallacious inuendo.
Sagacious Porta's fkill could trace
Some beaft or bird in ev'ry face.
Jhehead, the eye, the nofe*s fhape,
Prov'd this an owl, and that an ape.
When,
t I
FABLES. 145f
When, in the (ketches thus defign'd,
Refemblance brings fome friend to mind.
You (hew the piece, and giyt the hint.
And find each feature in the print :
So monftrous like the portrait's found.
All know it, and the laugh goes rounds
Like him 1 draw from gen ral nature ^
Is't I or vou then fix the fatire ?
So, Sir, I beg you fpare your pains
In making comments on my fttains.
All private flander I deteft,
I judge not of my neighbour's breaft :
Party and prejudice I hate.
And write no libels on the J(late.
Shall not my fable cenfure xicq,
Becaufe a knave is over-nice ?
And, left the guilty hear and dread.
Shall not the decalogue be read ?
If I lafh vice in gen'ral fiftion,
Is't I apply, or felf-convi6lion ?
Brutes
146 F A B L E S*
Your meaning in yout looks I fee.
Pray, what's Dame Dobbins, friend, to me ?
Did I e er make her poultry thinner ?
Prove that I owe th' Dame a dinner,
• • • w
Friend, quoth the Cur, I meant no harm :
Then, why fo captious ? why fo warm ?
My wordsi in commori acceptation.
Could never give this provocation.
No lamb (for ought I ever knew)
May be more innocent than you.
At this, gall'd Reynard winch'd and fwore
Such language ne'er was giv'n before.
What's lamb to me? the faucy hint-
Shew me,bafe knave, which way you fquint.
If t'other night your mafter loft
Three lambs, am I to pay the coft ?
Your vile refleftions would imply
That I'm the thief. You Dog, you lie.
Thou
FABLES. 147
Thou knave, thou fool, (the Dog reply *d)
The name is juft, take either fide ;
Thy guilt thefe applications fpeak ;
Sirrah, 'tis confcience makes you fqueak.
So faying, on the Fox he flies^
The felf-convifted felon dies*
FABLE Ih
tHi VULTURE, THE SPARftOW, AMD
OTHER BIRDS.
to A FRIEND IN THE COUNTRY.
1p RE I begin, Imuftpremife
Our miniftcrs are good and wife ;
So, though malicious tongues apply,
Pra^ what care they, or what care I ?
^r
L 2 If
148 FABLES.
If I am free with courts ; be't known,
I ne'er prefume to mean our own.
If general morals feem to joke
On minifters, and fuch like folk,
A captious fool may take offence ;
What then ? he knows his own pretence.
I meddle with no ftate-affairs.
But fpare my jeft to fave my ears.
Our prefent fchemes are too profound.
For Machiavel himfelf to found :
To cenfure 'em I have no pretenfion ;
I own they're paft my comprehenfion.
You fay your brother wants a place,
(Tis many a younger brother's cafe)
And that he very foon intends
To ply the court, and teize his friends.
If there his merits chance to find
A patriot of an open mind,
Whofe conftant aftions prove him juft
To both a king's and people's truft ;
May he, with gratitude attend, ,
And owe his rife to fuch a friend.
You
FABLES. 14^
You praife his parts, for bufinefs fit,
His learning, probity, and wit ;
But thofe alone will never do,
Unlefs his patron have 'em too.
I've heard of times (pray God defend us,
Wq're not fo good but he can mend us)
When wicked minifters have trod
On kings and people, law and God ;
With arrogance they girt the throne.
And knew no int'reft but their own.
Then virtue, from preferment barr'd.
Gets nothing but its own reward.
A gang of petty knaves attend 'em.
With proper parts to recommend 'em.
Then if their patron burn with luft.
The firfl in favour's pimp the firft.
His doors are never clos'd to fpies.
Who chear his heart with double lies ;
They flatter him, his foes defame.
So lull the pangs of guilt and fhame.
L 3 If
^
I^O FABLES* J
If fchemes of lucre haunt his brain^
Proje6lors fwell his greedy train ;
Vile brokers ply his private ear
With jobs of plunder for the year ;
All confciences muft bend and ply ;
You muft vote on, and not know why : ^
Through thick and thin you muft go on j
One fcruple, and your place is gone.
Since plagues like thefe have curft a l^nd,
«
And fav 'rites cannot always ftand ;
Good courtiers (hould for change be ready.
And not have principles too fteady :
For fhould a knave engrofs the pow'r,
(God (hield the realm from that fad hour)
He muft have rogues, or flavifh fools :
For what's a knave without his tools ?
Wherever thofe a people drain,
And ftrut with infamy an4 gain ;
I envy not their guilt and ftate,
And fcorn to fl^are the public h^te,
Jnet
FABLES^ 151
Let their own fervile creatures rife
By fcreening fraud, and venting lies;
Give me, kind heav n, a private ftation*,
A mind fercne for contemplation ;
Title and profit I reiign ; ^
The poft of honour fliall be mine.
My fable read, their merits view.
Then herd who will with fuch a crew.
In days of yore (my cautious rhymes
Always except the prefent times)
A greedy Vulture ikill'd in game,
Inur'd to guilt, unaw'd by (hame.
Approached the throne in evil hour.
And fltep by ftep intrudes to pow'r ;
When at the royal eagle's ear.
He longs to eafe the monarch's care.
The monarch grants. With pride elate,
Behold him minifter of ftate !
•Wheq impious men bear fway,
The poft of Honour is a private ft^tion,
Addison,
L 4 Around
152 FABLES,
Around him throng the feather'd rout ;
Friends muft be ferv'd, and fome muft out.
Each thinks his own the beft pretenfion ;
This afks a place, and that a penfion.
The nightingale was fet afide,
A forward daw his room fupply'd.
This bird (fays he) for bus'nefs fit,
Hath both fagacity and wit.
With all his turns, and (hifts and tricks.
He's docile, and at nothing fticks.
Then with his neighbour's, one fo free
At all times will connive at me.
The hawk had due diftinftion fhown.
For parts and talents like his own.
Thoufands of hireling cocks attends him.
As bluflVing bullies, to defend him*
At once the ravens were difcarded,
And magpies with their polls rewarded.
Thofe
F A B L £ S. 1^3
Thofe fowls of omen I deteft.
That pry into another's neft.
State lies muft lofe all good intent ;
For they forefee and croak th' event.
My friends ne'er think, but talk by rote.
Speak what they're taught, and fo to vote.
When rogues like thefe (a fparrow cries)
To honours and employments rife,
I court no favour, afk no place ;
For fuch preferment is difgrace.
Within my thatch'd retreat I find
(What thefe ne'er feel} true peace of mind.
FABLE
154 FABLES.
FABLE III.
THE BABOON AND THE POULTRY*
/
TO A LEVEfi HUNTER,
XT TE frequently mifplaoe elleem,
▼ ^ By judging men by what they feem.
To birth, wealth, pow'r, we fliould allow
Precedence, and our lowed bow.
In that is due diftinftion Ihown,
Efleem is virtue's right alone.
«
With partial eye we're apt to fee
The man of noble pedigree.
We're prepofTeft my lord inherits
In fome degree his grandfire's merits ;
For thofe we find upon record :
But find him nothing but my lord.
«
when
^-
EABM IBH.
FABLES I^
. When we with fuperlicial view.
Gaze on the rich, we're dazzled too. ,
We know that wealth well underftood.
Hath frequeijt pow'r of doing good ;
Then fancy that the thing is done.
As if the pow'r and will were one.
Thus oft the cheated crowd adore
The thriving knaves that keep em poor.
The cringing train of pow'r fUrvey :
What creatures are fo low as they !
With what obfequioufnefs they bend !
To what vile aftions condefcend !
Their rife is on their meannefs built.
And flatt'ry is their fmalleft guilt.
What homage, rev'rence, adoration.
In ev'ry age, in ev Vy nation.
Have fycophants to pow'r addrefs'd !
No matter who the pow'r pofTefs'd.
Let minifters be what th^y will.
You find their levees always filL
Even
/
1^6 FABLES.
Ev'n thofe who have perpkx'd a flate,
Whofe aftions claim contempt and hate.
Had wretches to applaud their fchemes.
Though more abfurd than madmens dreams.
When barbVous Moloch was invoked.
The blood of infants only fmoak'd !
But here (unlefs all hiftVy lies)
Whole realms have been a facrifice.
Look through all courts — 'Tis pow'r we find.
The gen'ral idol of mankind ;
There worfhip'd onder ev'ry (hape ;
Alike the lion, fox, and ape.
Are foUow'd by time-ferving flaves.
Rich proftitutes, and needy knaves*
Who, then, fhall glory in his poft ?
How frail his pride, how vain his boaft !
The followers of his profp'rous hour
Are as unliable as his pow'r.
Pow'r by the breath of flatt'ry nurft.
The more it fwells, is nearer burft.
The
FABLES. l/jw
The bubble breaks, the gewgaw ends.
And in a dirty tear defcends.
Gnce on a time, an ancient maid.
By wiflies and by time decay'd.
To cure the pangs of reftlefs thought.
In birds and beafts amufement fought :
Dogs, parrots, apes, her hours employed ;
With thefe alone Ihe talk'd and toy'd.
A huge Baboon her fancy took,
(Almoft a man in fize and look.
He finger'd ev'ry thing he found.
And mimic'd all the fervants round.
Then, too, his parts and ready wit
Shewed him for evVy bufinefs fit.
With all thefe talents, 'twas but juft
That Pug Ihould hold a place of truft :
So to her fav rite was affign'd
The charge of all her feather'd kind.
»Twas his to tend 'em eve and morn.
And portion out their daily corn.
Behold
158 F AB L t S*
Behold him now with haughty ftfidei
Affume a minifterial pride.
The morning rofe. In hope of pickings
S wans^ turkey s,peacocks,ducks and chicken^.
Fowls of all ranks furround his hut^
To worfhip his important ftrut*
The minifter appears. The croud
Now here, now there, obfequious bow'd*
This prais'd his parts, and that his face^
T'other his dignity in place.
From bill to bill the flatt'ry ran :
He hears and bears it like a man :
For, when we flatter felf-conceit.
We but his fentimentg repeat*
r
If we're too fcrupuloufly juft,
What profit's in a place of truft ?
The common praftice of the greats
Is, to fecure a fnug retreat.
So Pug began to turn his brain
(Like other folks in place) on gaiii^
Ati
r
FAB LES. 159
An apple-woman's ftall was near,
Well ftock'd with fruits through all the year;
Here ev'ry day he cramm'd his guts.
Hence were his hoards of pears and nuts ;
«
For 'twas agreed (in way of trade)
His payments ihould in corn be made.
The flock of grain was quickly fpent.
And no account which way it went.
Then, too, the poultry's ftarv'd condition
Caused fpeculations of fufpicion.
The fads were proved beyond difpute ;
Pug muft refund his hoards of fruit :
And, though then minifter in chief.
Was branded as a public thief.
Difgrac'd, defpis*d, confined to chains.
He nothing but his pride retains
A Goofe pafs'd by ; he knew the face.
Seen evVy levee while in place.
What, no refpeft! no reverence (hown ?
How fancy are thefe creatures grown !
Not
l6o FABLES.
Not two days fince (fays he) you bow'd
The loweft of my fawning croud.
Proud fool, (replies the goofe) 'tis true.
Thy corn a fluttering levee drew !
^ For that I join'd the hungry train.
And fold thee flatt'ry for thy grain.
«
But then, as now, conceited ape.
We faw thee in thy proper Ihape*.
FABLE IV.
THE ANT IN OFFICE.
TO A FRIEND.
VrOU tell me, that you apprehend
My verfe may touchy folks oflFend.
In prudence too you think my rhymes
Should never fquint at courtiers crimes :
For though nor this, nor that is meant.
Can we another*s thoughts prevent ?
)
You
#
tABLESw l6l
You a(k me if I ever knew
Court chaplains thus the lawn purfue.
1 meddle not with^gown or lawn ;
Poets, I grant, to rife muft fawn.
They know great ears are over-nice.
And neyer (hock their patron's vice/
But I this hackney path defpife ;
'Tis my ambition not to rife.
If I muft proftitute th^ mufe.
The bafe conditions I refufe.
»•
I neither flatter nor defame^
Yet own I would bring guilt to fhame^
If I corruption's hand expofe,
I make corrupted men my foes.
What then ? I hate the paultry tribe.
Be virtue mine ; be theirs the bribe-
I no man's property invade ;
Corruption's yet no lawful trade.
Nor would it mighty ills produce.
Could I fhame brib ry out of ufe^
I know 'twould cramp moft politicians.
Were they ty'd down to thefe conditions.
M 'T would
l62 FABL£S«
T would ftint their pow'r, their riches bound.
And make their parts feem lefs profound.
Were they deny'd their proper tools.
How could they lead their knaves and fools ?
Were this the cafe, let's take a view.
What dreadful mifchiefs would enfue ;
Though it might aggrandize the ftate,
CoulJ private luxury dine on plate ?
Kings might indeed their friends reward.
But minifters find lefs regard.
Informers, fycophants, and fpies.
Would not augment the year's fuppKes.
Perhaps too, take away this prop.
An annual job or two might drop.
Befides, if penfions were deny'd.
Could avarice fupport its pride ?
It might even minifters confound.
And yet the ftate be fafe and found.
I care not though 'tis underftood
I only mean my country's good :
And (let who will my freedom blame)
I wifli all courtiers did the fame.
Nay,
FABLfiS. ■ 1^3
Nay, though fome folks the lefs might get,
I wifh the nation out of debt,
I put no private man's ambition
With public good in competition :
Rather than have our law defac'd>
rd vote a minifler difgrac'd*
I ftrike at vice, be't where it will ;
And what if great folks take it ill ?
I hope corruption, brib Vy, penfion.
One may with deteftation mention :
Think you the law (let who will take it)^
Can fcandalum magnatum make it ?
I vent no flander, owe no grudge.
Nor of another *s confcience judge :
At him or him I take no aim,
Yet dare againft all vice declaim.
Shall I not cenfure breach of truft,
Becaufe knaves know themfelves unjuft ?
That fteward, whofe account is clear.
Demands his honour may appear :
M2 His
l66 FABLES,
I know our annual funds amount.
Why fuch expence, and where's th' account ?
With wonted arrogance and pride.
The Ant in office thus reply *d.
Confider, Sirs, were fecrets told.
How could the beft-fchem'd projefts hold ?
Should we ftate-myfteries difclofe,
*Twould lay us open to our foes.
My duty and my well-known zeal
Bid me our prefent fchemes conceal.
But on my honour, all th' expence
(Though vaft) was for the fwarm's defence.
They pafs'd the account as fair and juft,
And voted him implicit truft—
Next year again the gran 'ry drain'd.
He thus his innocence maintain'd.
Think how our prefent matters IJand,
What dangers threat from ev'ry hsind ;
What
FABLES. 167
What hofls of turkeys ftroU for food,
No farmer's wife but hath her brood.
Confider, when irivafion's near,
Intelligence mull coft us dear ;
And, in this ticklifli jGituation,
«
A fecret told betrays the nation.
But, on niy honour, all th' expence
(Though vaft) was for the fwarm's defence.
Again, without examination,
They thank'd his fage adminiftration.
The year revolves. The treafure fpent.
Again in fecret fervice went.
His honour too again was pledg'd.
To fatisfy the charge alledg'd.
When thus, with panic fhame poffefs'd
An auditor his friends addrefs'd.
What are we ? Minifterial tools.
We little knaves are greater fools,
M4 At
l68 F A B L £ S»
At lafl: this fetret is explored ; *
Tis our corruption thins the hoard.
For evVy grain, we touched, at lead
A thoufand his own heaps incrcas'd.
Then for his kin,, and fav rite fpies,
A hundred hardly could fuffice.
Thus, for a paltry faeaking bribe.
We cheat ourfelves, and all the tribe ;
For all the magazine contains.
Grows from oiir ^^nnual toil and pains.
They vote th' account fliall be infpeded j
The cunning plund rer is detefted ;
The fraud is fentenc'd; and his hoard.
As due, to public ufe reflor d,
FABLE
r
rABLE VI.
FABLES. . l6g
FABLE V'
THE BEAR IN A BOAT.
TO A COXCOMB.
nPHAT man maft daily wifer grow,
"*" Whofe fearch is bent himfelf to know ;
Impartially he weighs his fcope,.
And on firm reafon founds his hope ;
He tries his ftrength before the race.
And never feeks his own difgrace ;
He knows the compafs, fail, and oar.
Or never launches from the fliore ;
Before he bUilds, computes the coft ;
And in no proud purfuit is loft :
He learns the bounds of human fenfe.
And fafely walks within the fence.
Thus, conffcious of his own defeft.
Are pride and felf-importance check'd.
If
170 FABLES..
If then, felf-knowledge to purfue,
Direcl our life in evVy view.
Of all the fools that pride can boaft,
A Coxcomb claims diftinftion mbft.
G>xcombs are of all ranks and kind ;
They're not to fex or age confin'd.
Or rich, or poor, or great, or fmall ;
And vanity befets -em all.
By ignorance is pride increased :
Thofe moft affume who know the lead ;
Their own falfe balance gives 'eni weight.
But ev'ry other finds em light.
Not that all Coxcombs follies ftrike.
And draw our ridicule alike ;
To diff'rent merits each pretends.
This in love-vanity tranfcends ;
That fmitten with his face and (hape.
By drefs diftinguifhes the ape ;
Tbther with learning crams his (helf.
Knows books, and all things but himfelf.
All
FABLES, 171
All thefe are fools of low condition,
Compar'd w^th Coxcombs of ambition.
For thofe, pufFd up with flatt'ry, dafe
AfTume a nation's various care.
They ne'er the grofleft praife miftruft.
Their fycophants feem hardly juft ;
For thefe, in part alone, atteft
The flatt'ry their own thoughts fugged.
In this wide fphere a coxcomb's fliown
In other realms befide his own :
The felf-deem'd Machiavel at large
By turns controuls in ev'ry charge.
Does commerce fuffer in her rights?
'Tis he direfts the naval flights.
What failor dares difpute his fkill ?
He*ll be an adm'ral when he will.
Now meddling in the foldier's trade.
Troops muft be hir'd, and levies made.
He gives ambaffadors their cue,
His cobbled treaties to renew ;
And
172 FABLES.
And annual taxes muft fuffice
Th^ current blunders to difguife.
When his crude fchemes in air are loft.
And millions fcarce defray the coft.
His arrogance (nought undifmay'd)
Trufting in feltfufficient aid.
On other rocks mifguides the realm.
And thinks a pilot at the helm.
He ne'er fufpeds his want of fkill.
But blunders on from ill to ill ;
And, when he fails of all intent.
Blames only unforefeen event.
Left you miftake the application.
The fable calls me to relation.
A Bear of (hag and manners rough.
At climbing trees expert enough ;
For dex'troufly, and fafe from harm.
Year after year he robb'd the fwarm.
Thus thriving on induftrious toil.
He glory 'd in his pilfer'd fpoiL
This
FABLES.
^73
This trick fo fwell'd him with conceit,
He thought no enterprize too great. "
Alike in fciences and arts.
He boafted univerfal parts ;
Pragmatic, bufy, buftling, bold,
His arrogance was uncontrourd :
And thus he made his party good.
And grew diftator of the wood.
The beafts with admiration flare.
And think him a prodigious Bean
Were any common booty got,
'Twas his each portion to allot :
For why, he found there might be picking,
EVn in the carving of a chicken.
Intruding thus, he by degrees
Claim'd too the butcher's larger fees.
And now his over-weaning pride
In ev'ry province will prefide.
No talk too difficult was found :
His blund Ving nofe mifleads the hound.
In
174 FABLES.
In ftratagem and fubtle arts.
He over-rules the fox's parts.
It chanc'd, as, on a certain dayy
Along the bank he took his way,
A boat, with rudder, fail, and oar.
At anchor floated near the fliore.
He flopt, and turning to his train,
Thus pertly vents his vaunting ftrain.
What blundVing puppies are mankind.
In every fcience always blind !
I mock the pedantry of fchools.
What are their compafles and rules ?
From me that helm fliall condud learn.
And man his ignorance difcern.
So faying, with audacious pride.
He gains the boat, and climbs the fide.
The beafts aftonifti'd, lin'd the ftrand.
The anchor's weigh'd, he drives from land :
The
FABLES. lyr
The flack fail fliifts from fide to fide ;
The boat untrim'd admits the tide.
Borne down, adrift, at random toft.
His oar breaks ftiort, the rudder's loft.
The Bear, prefuming in his (kill.
Is here and there officious ftill ;
Till ftriking on the dang'rous fands,
A-ground the fliatter'd veflel ftands.
To fee the bungler thus diftreft,
The very fiflies fneer and jeft.
Ev n gudgeons join in ridicule.
To mortify the meddling fool.
The clam'rous watermen appear ;
Threats, curfes, oaths, infult his ear :
Seiz'd, thrafli'd, and chain'd, he's dragged to
land ;
Derifion fliouts along the ftrand.
FABLE
lyS FABLES.
FABLE VI.
THE SQUIRE AND HIS CUR,
TO A COUNTRY GENTLEMAN,
nPHE man of pure and fimple heart
Through life difdains a double part*
He never needs the fcreen of lies
His inward bofom to difguife.
In vain malicious tongues affail ;
Let envy fnarl, let flander rail.
From virtue's fhield (fecure from wound)
Their blunted, vehom'd (hafts rebound.
So (hines his light before mankind.
His aftions prove his honeft mind.
If in his country's caufe he rife.
Debating fenates to advife,
Unbrib'd, unaw'd, he dares impart
The honeft didates of his heart.
No
PABLfeS. 177
No minifterial frown he fears.
But in his virtue perfeveres*
»
But would you play the politician^
* * •
Whofe heart's averfe to intuition^
Vour lips at all times, nay, yoiir reafoii
Muft be controurd by place and feafon*
What ftatefman could his pow'r fupport
Were lying tongues forbid the court ?
JDid princely ears to truth attend.
What minifter cduld gain his end ?
How could he raife his tools to place^
And how his honeft foes difgrace ?
That politician tops his parfc.
Who readily can lie with art :
The man's profidient in his trade j
His powV is ftrong, his fortune's made.
By that the intVeft of the throne
Is made.fubfervient to his own :
By that have kings df old^ deluded^
AU their own friends for his excluded.
N By
Ijrg FABLES.
By that, his felfifli fchemes purfuing.
He thrives upon the public ruin.
* An t I o c h u s, with hardy pace.
Provoked the dangers of the chace ;
And, loft, from all his menial train.
Traversed the wood and pathlefs plain.
A cottage lodg'd the royal gueft!
*
The Parthian clown brought forth his beft.
The king, unknown, his feaft enjoyed.
And various chat the hours employed.
From wine what fudden friendfhip fprings !
Frankly they talk'd of courts and kings^
We country-folks (the clown replies)
Cou'd ope our gracious monarch's eyes.
The king, (as all our neighbours fay)
Might he (God blefs him) have his way.
Is found at heart, and means our good.
And he would do it, if he cou'd.
* Plutarch.
If
!
FABLES. 1^9
If truth in Courts were not forbid,
Nor kings nor fubje6ls would be rid.
Were he in pow'r, we need not doubt him :
But that transferred to thofe about him.
On them he throws the regal cares :
And what mind tHey ? Their own affairSt
If fuch rapacious hands he truft.
The beft of men may feem unjuft.
From kings to coblers 'tis the fame :
Bad fervants wound their mafter's fame.
In this our neighbours all agree :
Would the king knew as much as we.
Here he ftopt fhort; Repofe they fought.
The peafant flept, the monarch thought.
The courtiers learn'd, at early dawn.
Where their loft fov'reign was withdrawn.
The guards approach, our hoft alarms.
With gaudy coats^ the cottstge fwarms.
The crown and purple robea they bring.
And proftrate fall before the king.
N 2 The
l80 FABLES.
The clown was call'd, the royal guefl:
By due reward his thanks expreft.
The king then, turning to the crowd.
Who fawningly before him bow'd.
Thus fpoke. Since, bent on private gain^
Your counfels firft mifled my reign.
Taught and informed by you alonc^
No truth the royal ear hath known.
Till here converfing. Hence, ye crew.
For now I know myfelf and you.
Whene'er the royal ear's ingroft.
State-lies but little genius coft.
The fav'rite then fecurely robs.
And gleans a nation by his jobs.
Franker and bolder grown in ill.
He daily poifons dares inftil ;
And, as his prefent views fuggeft^
Inflames or fooths the royal breaft.
Thus wicked minifters opprefs.
When oft the monarch means redrcfs.
Would^
FABLES. l8l
Would kings their private fubjeds hear,
A minifter muft talk with fear.
If honefty oppos'd his views,
He dar'd not innocence excufe.
*Twould keep him in fuch narrow bound.
He could not right and wrong confound.
Happy were kings, could they difclofc
Their real friends and real foes !
Were both themfelves and fubje6ls known,
A monarch's will might be his own.
Had he the ufe of ears and eyes.
Knaves would no more be counted wife.
But then a minifter might lofe
(Hard cafe !) his own ambitious views.
When fuch as thefe have vex'd a ftate,
Purfu'd by univecial hate^
Their &lfe fupport at once hath fail'd.
And perfevering truth prevaird.
Expos'd their train o£ fraud is leen;
Truth will at lail remove the icrecru
X 3 A co^imry
*°2 FABLES.
A country 'Squire, by whim direfted,.
The true (launch dogs of chace negleae'd.
Beneath his board no hound was fed
His hand ne'er ftrok'd the fpaniel's head.
A fnappifh Cur, alone careft.
By lies had banifh'd all the reft.
Yap had his ear; and defamation
Gave him full fcopc of eonverfation.
His fycophants muft be preferred.
Room muft be made for all his herd :
Wherefore, to bring his fchemes about.
Old faithful fervants ^11 muft out.
The Cur on ev'ry creature flew,
(As other great mens' puppies do),
Unlefs due court to him were {hown.
And both their face and bus'nels known.
No honeft tongue an audience found :
He worried all the tenants round ;
For why, he liv'd in conftant fear.
Left truth, by chance, fliould interfere.
If
'
FABLES. 183
If any ftranger dare intrade.
The noify Cur his heels purfu'd.
Now fierce with rage, now ftruck with dread.
At once he fnarled, bit, and fled.
Aloof he bays, with briftling hair.
And thus in fecret growls his fear :
Who knows but truth, in this difguife.
May fruftrate my beft-guarded lies ?
Should fhe (thus mafk'd) admittance find.
That very hour my ruin's fign'd.
Now, in his howl's continued found.
Their words were loft, their voice was
drown'd.
Ever in awe of honeft tongues^
Thus ev'ry day he ftrain'd his lungs.
It happen d, in ill-omen'd hour.
That Yap, unmindful of his pow'r,,
Forfook his poft, to love inclin'd ;
A favorite bitch was in the wind.
By her feduc'd, in am rous play.
They frifk'd the joyous hours away.
N 4 Thus,
)84 FABLES.
Thus, by untimely love purfuing,
J.ike Antonv, he fought his rain.
For now the 'Squire, unvcx'd with noifesi
An honeft neighbour's chat enjoys.
Be free (fays he,) your mind impart j;
I love a friendly open he^rt.
Methinks my tenants fliun my gate j
Why fuch a ftranger grown of late ;
Pray tell me wliat offence they find :
* Jis plain they're not fo well inclined.
Turn off your Cur (the farmer cries)
Who feeds your ear with daily lies.
His fnarlirig infolence offends ;
'Tis he that keeps you from your friends.
Were but th^t faucy puppy checkt.
You'd find again the fame refpeft.
Hear only him, hell fwear it too.
That all our hatred is to you.
But learn from us your true eftate ;
Tis thj^t curs'd Cur alone we hate.
The
FABLE VH.
VAMTLM "VEH.
F A B L £ S. 185
The 'Squire heard truth. Now Yap rulh'd
in;
The wide hall echoes with his din :
Yet truth prevail'd ; and with difgrace,
The Dog was cudgell'd out of place.
• •
FABLE Ylh
THE COUNTRYMAN AND JUPITER^
TP MYSEtF,
TT AVE you a friend (look round and fpy)
So fond, fo prepoffefs'd as I ?
Your faults, fo obvious to mankind.
My partial eyes could never find.
When by the breath of fortune blown.
Your airy caftles were overthrown ;
Have I been over-prone to blame.
Or mortify 'd your hoi^rs with fliame ?
Was I e'er known to damp your fpirit.
Or twit you with the want of merit ?
Tis
l86 FAB LIS,
*Tis not ro ftrangc, that Barfeune'a frown
Still perfeveres to keep you down^
Look round, and fee what others do.
Would you be rich and honeft too ?
Have you (like thofe fhe raised to place)
Been opportunely mean and bafe ?
Have you (as times required) refign'd
Truth, honour, virtue, peace of mind ?
If thefe are fcruples, give her o'er ;
Write, praftife morals, and be poor.
The gifts of fortune truly rate ;
Then tell me wliat would mend your ftate.
If happincfs on wealth were built.
Rich rogues might comfort find in guilt ;
As grows the mifer's hoarded ftore.
His fears, his wants, increafe the more.
Think, Gay, (what ne'er may be the cafe)
Should fortune take you into grace.
Would that your happinefs augment ?
What can (he give beyond content ?
Suppofe
FABLES, Jl^7
«
Suppofe yourfelf a wealthy heir.
With a vaft annual income clear !
In all the affluence you poflefs.
You might not feel one care the lefs.
Might you not then (like others) find
With change of fortune, change of mind f
Perhaps, profufe beyond all rule.
You might ftart out a glaring fool ;
Your luxury might break all bounds :
Plate, table, horfes, ftewards, hounds.
Might fwell your debts : then, luft of play
No regal income can defray.
Sunk is all credit, writs aflail.
And doom your future life to jail.
Or were you dignify'd with pow V,
Would that avert one penfive hour ?
You might give avarice its fwing,
Defraud a nation, blind a king ;
Then, from the hirelings in your caufe.
Though daily fed with falfe applaufe.
Could
l88 F A B L E S«
Could it a real joy impart ?
Great guilt knew never joy at heart.
Is happinefs your point in view ?
(1 mean the intrinfic and the true)
She nor in camps or courts refides.
Nor in the humble cottage hides ;
Yet &)und alike in ev'ry fphere ;
«
Who finds content, will find her there.
0*erfpent with toil, beneath the fhade,
A peafant refted on his fpade.
Good Gods ! he cries, 'tis hard to bear
This load of life from year to year.
Soon as the morning ftreaks the fkies,
Induftrious labour bids me rife ;
With fweat I earn my homely fare.
And cv ry day renews my care. •
JovE heard the difcontented flrain.
And thus rebuk'd the murm'ring fwain.
Speak
FABLES. 189
Speak out your wants then, honeft friend :
Unjuft complaints the gods offend.
If you repine at partial fate,
Inftrufl: me what could mend your (late.
Mankind in ev'ry ftation fee.
What wilh you ? Tell me what you'd be.
So faid, upborne upon a cloud.
The clown furvey'd the anxious crowd.
Yon face of care, fays Jo v b, behold.
His bulky bags are fiU'd with gold.
See with what joy he counts it o'er !
That fum to-'day hath fwell'd his ftore.
Were I that man, (the Peafant cry'd)
What bleffihg could I a(k befide ?
Hold, fays the god ; firft learn to know
True happinefs from outward fltow.
This optic glafs of intuition
Here, take it, view his true condition.
He
19^ FABLE $4
He look'd, and faw the mifer's brcaft,
A troubled ocean, ne*er at reft ;
Want ever flares him in the facc^
And fear anticipates difgrace :
. With confcious guilt he faw him ftart ;
Extortion gnaws his throbbing heart ;
And never, or in thought or dream.
His breaii admits one happy gleam.
May Jove, he cries, reje6l my prayV,
And guard my life from guilt and care*
My foul abhors that wretch's fate.
O keep mc in my humble ftate !
But fee, amidft a gaudy crowd.
Yon miniftcr, fo gay and proud.
On him what happinefs attends, ^
Who thus rewards his grateful friends !
Firft take the glafs, the God replies ;
Man views the world with partial eyes.
Good gods ! exclaims the ftartled wight.
Defend me from this hideous fight !
Corruption
FABLES. IQI
Corruption, with corrofive fmart,
Lies cank'ring on his guilty heart :
I fee hira, with polluted hand,
Spread the contagion o'er the land,
Now avarice with infatiate jaws.
Now rapine with her harpy claws.
His bofom tears. His confcious breaft
Groans, with a load of crimes oppreft.
See him, mad and drunk with power.
Stand tott'rrng on ambition's tower.
Sometimes, in fpeeches vain and proud.
His boafts infult the nether crowd ;
Now, feiz'd with giddinefs and fear,
fie trembles left his fall is near.
Was ever wretch like this, he cries !
Such mifery in fiich difguife !
The change, O Jove, I difavow ;
Still be my lot the fpade and plough.
He next confirmed by fpeculation,
Rejefls the lawyer's occupation ;
For
Ip2 * t A B L E Si
For lie the ftatefman feem'd in part,
And bore fimilitude of heart.
Nor did the foldier's trade inflame
His hopes with thirfl of fpoil and fame^
The mis'ries of war he mourn'd ;
Whole nations into deferts tufn^d.
By thefe have laws and rights beenbrav*d>
By thefe were frce*born men enflav'd :
When battles and invafion ceafe.
Why fwarm they in a land of peace ?
Such change (fays he) may I decline;
The £cythe and civil arms be mine I
Thus, weighing life in each conditionv
The Clown withdrew his rafti petition^
When thus the god : Hoiv mortals err?
If you true happinefs prefer,
^Tis to no rank of life confin'd.
But dwells in evVy honeft mind*
Be
Be juftice then your fole purfuit !
Plant virtue, and content's the fruit.
So Jove, to gratify the. Clown,
Where firft he found him fet him down*
S'ABLE Vllt.
tHfi MAN, THE GAT, THE DOG, AND THE FLY^
to MY NATIVE COUNTRY.
AIL, happy land, whofe fertile grounds
The liquid fence of Neptune bounds i
By bounteous Nature fet apart,
The feat of induftry and of art !
O Britain ; chofen port of trade>
May luxury ne'er thy fons invade ;
May never minifler (intent
His private treafures to augment)
Corrupt thy flate* If jealous foes
Thy rights of commerce dare oppofe,
O Shall
1(^4 FABLES.
Shall not thy fleets their rapine awe ?
Who is't prefcribes the ocean law ?
Whenever neighb ring dates contend,
'Tis thine to be the genVal friend.
What is't, who rules in other lands ?
On trade alone thy glory ftands.
That benefit is unconfin'd,
DifFufing good among mankind :
That firft gave luftre to thy reigns.
And fcatter*d plenty o'er thy plains :
Tis that alone thy wealth fupplies,^
And draws all £urop£'s envious eyes.
Be commerce then thy fole defign ;
Keep that, and all the world is thine.
When naval traffic ploughs the main.
Who (hares not in the merchant s gain ?
'Tis that fupports the regal ftate.
And makes the farmer's heart elate :
The numerous flocks, that clothe the land.
Can fcarce fupply the loom's demand ;
ProKfic
Prolific culture glads the fields.
And the bare heath a harveft yields*
Nature expe61;s mankind fhould (hare
The duties of the public care#
Who's born for floth ?* To fome we find
The plough-fhare's annual toil aflign'd*
Some at the founding anvil glow;
Some the fwift-fliding fliuttle throw.
Some, ftudious of the wind and tide,
Fom pole to pole our commerce guide :
Some (taught by induftry) impart
With hands and feet the works of art :
While fome, of genius more refin'd.
With head and tongue affifl; mankind ;
Each, aiming at one common end.
Proves to the whole a needful friend.
Thus, born each other's ufeful aid
By turns are obligations paid.
The monarch, when his table's lpread«
Is to the clown oblig'd for bread ;
• Barrow.
O2 And
I^^ FABLES.
And when in all his glory dreft^
Owes to the loom his royal veft.
Do not the mafon's toil and care
Proteft him from th' inclement ai^!
Does not the cutler's art fupply
The ornament that guards his thigh?
All thefe, in duty to the throne, •
Their common obligations own.
Tis he (his own and people's caufe)
Protefts their properties and laws.
Thus they their honeft toij employ.
And with content their fruitsi enjoy.,
In evVy rank, or great or fmall,
VTis induftry fupports us alL
The animals by want opprefs'dy
To man their fervices addrefs'd ;
V
While each purfu'd their felfifti good.
They hunger'd for precarious food.
Their hours with anxious cares were vext ;
One day they fed, and ftarv'd the next.
They faw that plenty, fure and rife.
Was found alone in focial life ;
That
FABLES^ J97
That mutual induftry profefs^d,
The various wants of man redrefs'd.
The Cat, ;half-fami(h'd,' lean ^nd weak.
Demands the privilege to fpeak.
Well, Pufs, (fays Man) and what can you
To benefit the public do ?
The Cat replies. Thefe teeth, thefe claws,
With vigilance {hall ferye the caufe.
The moufe deftroy'd by my purfuit.
No longer Ihall your feafts pollute ;
Nor rats, from nightly ambufcade.
With wgtfteful teeth your (lores invade.
I grant, fays Man, to genVal ufe
Your parts and talents may conduce ;
for rats and mice purloin our grain.
And threftiers whirl the flail in vain :
Thus fhall the Cat, a foe to fpoil.
Protect the farmer's honeft toil.
O 3 Then
i^ FABLES,
Then turning to the Dog, he cry'd.
Well, Sir ; be next your merits try'd.
Sir, lays the Dog, by felf-applaufe
We feem to own a friendlefs caufe.
Afk thofe who know me, if diftruft
E'er found me treach rous or unjuft ?
Did I e'er faith or friendfhip break ?
Afk all thofe creatures ; let them fpeak.
My vigilance and trufly zeal
Perhaps mi^t ferve the public weaL
Might not your flocks in fafety feed.
Were I to guard the fleecy breed ?
Did I the nightly watches keep.
Could thieves invade you while you flcep ?
The man replies. -Tis juft and right*,
Rewards fuch fervice fliould requite.
So rare, in property, we find
Truft uncorrupt among mankind.
That, tjiken, in a public vkw.
The firft diftinftion is your due.
Such
y A j? I. n. ^. igg
Such merits all reward-tranfccnd :
Be then my comrade and my friend.
Addrei&ng now the Fly : From you
What public fervice can accrue ?
From me ! (the fluttering infed faid)
I thought you knew me better bred.
Sir, I'm a gentleman. 1st fit
That I to induftry fubmit ?
Let mean mechanics, to be fed
By bus'nefs earn ignoble bread.
Loft in excefs of daily joys.
No thought, no care my life annoys,
At noon (the Udy's matin hour)
I fip the tea's delicious flower.
On cates luxuriouHy I dine.
And drink the fragrance of thevine.
Studious of elegance and eafe,
Myfelf alone I feek to pleafe.
The man his pert conceit derides.
And thus the ufelefs coxcdmb chides,
O 4 Hence,
200 FABLES*
Hence, from that peach, that downy feat;
No idle fool deferves to eat.
Could you have fapp'd the blulhing rind,
And on that pulp ambrofial din'd.
Had not fome hand with fkill and toil.
To raife the tree, pre'par'd the foil ?
Confider, fot, what would enfue.
Were all fuch worthlefs things as you.
You'd foon be forc'd (by hunger ftung)
To make your dirty meals on dung ;
On which fuch defpicable need ;
Unpitied, is reduc'd to feed ;
Befides, vain felfifh infeft, learn,
(If you can right and wrong difcern)
That he who, with induftrious ^eal^
Contributes to the public weal.
By adding to the common good.
His own hath rightly underftood^
So faying, with a fudden blow.
He laid thie noxious vagrant low»
Crufh'd in his luxury and pride.
The fpunger on the public dy'd.
Fi\BL.B IX,
FABLES* got
FABLE IX.
THE JACKALL/leOPARD, AND OTHER
BEASTS*
TO A MODERN POLITlfclAjJ, ' '
T GRANT corruption fways mankind;
^ That int'reft too perverts the mind ;
m
That bribes have blinded common fenfe,
Foil'd reafon, truth, and eloquence :
I grant you too, our prefent crimes
Can equal thofe of former times.
Againft plain fafts fliall I engage.
To vindicate our righteous age?
I know, that in a modern fift.
Bribes in full energy fubfift.
Since then thefe arguments prevail^
And itching palms are ftill fo frail.
Hence politicians you fuggeft.
Should drive the nail that goes the beft ;
That
202 F A B L £ S.
That it fhows parts and penetration.
To ply men with the right temptation.
To this I humbly muft diflent ;
Premifing no reflexion's meant.
Does juftice or the client's fenfe
Teach lawyer's either fide's defence ?
The fee gives eloquence its fpirit ;
That only is the client's merit.
Does art, wit, wifdom, or addrefs,
Obtain the proflitute's carefs ?
The guinea (as in other trades)
From ev'ry hand alike perfuades.
Man, Scripture fays, is prone to evil.
But does that vindicate the devil ?
Befides, the more mankind are prone.
The lefs the devil's parts are fliown.
Corruption's not of modern dace ;
It hath been try'd in ev'ry ftate.
Great knaves of old their power have fenc'd,
By places, pcnfions, bribes, difpens'd j
By
F A B L £ 8. 2P3
By thefe they glory'd in fuccefs.
And impudently dar'd opprefs ;
By thefe defpoticly they fway'd.
And fkves extolFd the hand that pay'd j
Nor parts, nor genius were employed,
«
By thefe alone were realms deftroy'd
Now fee thefe wretches in difgrace,
Stript of their treafures, pow'r, and place ;
View 'em abandoned and forlorn,
Exposed to juft reproach and fcorn.
What now is all your pride, your boaft ?
Where are your flaves, your flatt ring hoft ?
What tongues now feed you with applaufe ?
Where are the champions of your caufe ?
Now ev'n that very fawning train
Which fliar'd the gleanings of your gain«
Prefs foremoft who ftiall firft accufe
Your felfifh jobs, your paltry views,
Your narrow fchemes, your breach of truft.
And want of talents to be juft.
What
S04 FABLES.
What fools were thefe amidft their powV?
How thoughtlefs of their adverfe hour !
What friends were made ? A hireling herd.
For temporary votes preferred.
Was it, thefe fycophants to get.
Your bounty fweil'd a nation's debt ?
YouVe bit. For thefe, like Swifs attend ;
No longer pay, no loiiger friends
The Lion (is beyond difpute)
Allow'd the moft majeftic brute ; *
His valour and his gen'rous mind
Prove him fuperior of his kind.
Yet to Jackalis (as 'tis averr'd)
Some Lions have their pow'r transferred j
As if the parts of pimps and fpies
To govern fore (Is could fuffice.
Once, ftudious of his private good,
A proud Jackall opprefs'd the wood ;
To cram his own infatiate jaws.
Invaded property and laws.
Th€
The foreft groans with difconteiit,
Erefh wrongs the general hate foment.
The fpreading murmurs reach'd his ear;
His fecret hours were vex'd with fean
Night after niglit he weighs the cafe.
And feels the terrors of difgrace.
By friends (fays he) Til guard my feat,
By thofe mahcious tongues defeat :
111 ftrengthen powV by new allies.
And all my clam'rous foes defpife.
To make the genVous hearts his friends.
He cringes fawns, and condefcends ;
But thofe repuls'd his abjeft court.
And fcom'd oppreflion to fupport.
Friends muft be had. He can't fubfift.
Bribes fhall new profelytes inlift.
But thefe nought wdgh'd in honefl; paws ;
For bribes confefs a wicked caufe :
Yet think not evVy paw withflands
What had prevailed in human hands.
A tempting
206 FABLES.
A tempting turnip's filvcr fkin
Drew a bafe hog through thick and thin :
Bought with a flag's delicious haunch.
The mercenary wolf was ftanch ;
The convert fox grew warm and hearty^
A pullet gain'd him to the party ;
The golden pippin in his fift,
A chatt'ring monkey join'd the lift.
But foon expos'd to public hate.
The favVites fall redrefs'd the date.
The Leopard, vindicating right.
Had brought his fecret frauds to light.
As rats^ before the manfion falls,
Defert late hofpitable walls.
In ihoals the fervile creatures run.
To bow before the rifing fun.
The hog with warmth exprefs'd his zeal.
And was for hanging thofe that fteal ;
But h6p'd, though low, the public hoard
Might half a turnip ftill afford.
Since
FABLES. 207
Since faving meafures were prafeft,
A lamb's head was the wolfs requeft.
The fox fubmitted if to touch
A gofling would be deem'd too much.
The monkey thought his grin and chatter.
Might alk a nut or fome fuch matter.
Ye hirelings, (hence the Leopard cries ;)
Your venal confcience I defpife.
He who the public good intends.
By bribes needs never purchafe friends.
Who afts this juft, this open part.
Is propt by evVy honeft heart.
Corruption now too late hath fhow'd.
That bribes are always ill-beftow'd.
By you your bubbled mafter's taught,
Time-ferving tools, not friends, are bought.
FABLE
208 t ABLEi^
>
I'ABLE X.
THE DEGENERATE BEES.
to THE REVEREND DR. SWiFT, DEAN OF ST* PATRICK'**
T^HOUGH courts the praaice difalloMr^
A friend at all times 111 avow*
In politics I know 'tis wrong :
A friendlhip may be kept too long ;
And what they call the prudent part.
Is to wear int'reft next the heart.
As the times take a diflPerent face.
Old friendfhips (hould to new give place*
I know too you have many foes.
That owning you is fliaring thofe.
That evVy knave in ev'ry ftation.
Of high and low denomination.
For what you fpeak, and what you write.
Dread you at once, and bear you fpite.
Such
FABLES* 209
Such freedoms in yqur works are fhown
They can't enjoy what^s not their own.
All dunces too in church and ftate.
In frothy nonfenfe fhew their hate ;
With all the petty fcribbling crew,
(And thofe pert fots are not a few,)
'Gainft you and Pope their envy fpurt.
The bookfellers alone are hurt. ^ ,.
*
Good gods ! by what a powerful race
(For blockheads may have pow'r and place)
Are fcandals rais'd and libels writ !
To prove your honefty and wit !
Think wi^h yourfelf : Thofe worthy men.
You knoWf have fuffer'd by your pen.
Froin them youVe nothing but your due.
From thence, 'tis plain, your friends are fe w.
Except myfelf, I know of none,
Befides the wife and good alone«
To fet the cafe in fairer lighf.
My fab}e (hall the reft recite ;
P Which
2iO FABLES.
Which (tho' unlike our prefent ftate)
I for the moral's fake relate.
A Bee of cunning; not of parts.
Luxurious, negligent of arts.
Rapacious, arrogant, and vain.
Greedy of pow V, but more of gain.
Corruption fow'd throughout the hive.
By petty rogues the great ones thrive.
As pow Vahd wealth his views fupply'd,
• ■ • ..
'Twas feen in over-bearing pride.
With him loiid impudence had merit ;
The Bee of confcienee wanted fpirit;
And thofe who foUow'd honour's rules.
Were laugh'd to fcorn for fqueamifli fools.
Wealth claimed diftinftion, favour, grace ;
And poverty alone was bafe.
He treated induftry with flight,
Unlefs he foiind his profit by't.
JRights, laws, and liberties gave way.
To bring his felfifh fchemes in play.
The
I
»
F A B.LE S. 211
The fwarm forgot the common toil,
To fliare tl>e gleanings of his fpoil.
- r
While vulgar fouls of narrow parts^
Wafte life in low mechanic arts, .
J-.et us (fays he) to genius born.
The drudg'ry of Our fathers fcorn*
The wafp and drone, you muft agree^
Live with more elegance than we.
Like gentlemen they fport and play ; -
No bus'nefs interrupts the day ;
Their hours to luxury they give, , - -
And nobly on their neighbours live.
A ftubborn Bee, among the fwarm.
With honeft indignation warm.
Thus from his cell with zeal reply- d.. , .
I flight thy frowns, and hate thy pride.
The laws pur native rights proteft ; .
Offending thee, I thofe refpeft.
• P 2 , Shall
212 FABL£*9«
Shall luxuty corrapt the hit^e.
And none againft the torrent ftrive ?
Exert the honour of your race ;
He builds his rife on youf difgrace.
Tis induftry our ftate maintains :
'Twas honeft toils and honeft gains
That rais'd our fires to pow'r and fame.
Be virtuous ; fave yourfelves from fliame,
Know, that in felfifh ends purfuing.
fcramble for the public ruin.
He fpokc; Stud frotn his cell difrhifs'd^
Was infolently fciff'd and hifs'di
With him a friend or two refign'd,
Difdaining the degenerate kind;
Thcfc dronts (fays he) thefe infecls vile,
(I treat them in their proper ftyle)
May for a tiilne ojiprefs the ftate.
They own out virtue by theit hate;
By that our merits they reveal,
And recommend our public zeal ;
Dilgracy
me.
i
It,
^ I
FABLE XI.
rABL,E xn.
FABLES. 213
Difgrac'd by this corrupted crew,
WeVe honour'd by the virtuous few.
FABLE XL
TKE PACK-HORSE AND THE CARRIER^
r ' ■ '
TO A YOUNG NOBLEMAN*
13 EGIN, my Lord, in early youth.
To faflfer, nay, encourage truth :
And blame me not for difrefpeft^
If I the flatt'rer's fly le rejeft ;
I
With that, by menial tongues fupply'd.
You're daily cockcr'd up in pride.
The tree's diflinguilh'd by the fruit.
Be virtue, then your fble purfuit ;
Set your great anceflors in view.
Like them deferve the title too :
Like them ignoble actions fcorn :
Let virtue prove you greatly born.
♦ I
P3 Though
214 FABLES.
Though with lefs plate their fide-board
fhone,
Their confcience always was their own ;
They ne'er at levees meanly fawn d.
Nor was their honour yearly pawned ;
Their hands, by no corruption ftain'd.
The minifterial bribe difdain'd ;
They ferv'd the crown with loyal zeal ;
Yet, jealous of the public weal.
They flood the bulwark of our laws.
And wore at heart their country's caufe ;
By neither place or penfion bought.
They fpoke and voted as they thought.
Thus. did your fires adorn their feat;
And fuch alone are truly great.
If you the paths of learning flight,
YouVe but a dunce in ftronger light ;
In foremoft rank the coward plac'd.
Is more confpicuoufly difgrac'd.
If you to ferve a paltry end.
To kriavifh jobs can condefcend.
We
FABLES. . 215
We pay you the contempt that's due ;
In that you have precedence too.
Whence had you this illuftrious name ?
From virtue and unblemifh'd fame.
By birth the name alone defcends ;
Your honour on yourfelf depends :
Think not your coronet can hide
AlTuming ignorance and pride.
Learning by ftudy muft be won,
'Twas ne'er entail'd from fon to fon.
Superior worth your rank requires;
For that mankind reveres your fires ;
If you degen'rate from your race.
Their merits heighten your difgrace.
A Carrier, ev ry night and m,orn.
Would fee his horfes eat their corn :
This funk the hofller's vails, 'tis true ;
But then his horfes had their due.
Were we fo cautious in all cafes.
Small gain would rife from greater places.
P 4 The
!2i6 FABLES.
The manger now had all its m'eafure ;
He heard the grinding teeth with pleafure ;
when all at once confufing rung ;
They fnorted, jollied, bit, and flung :
A Pack-horfe turn'd his liead afide.
Foaming, his eye-balls fwell'd with pride.
Cood gods ! (fays he) how hard's my lot !
■
Is then my high defcent forgot ?
Reduced to drudgery and difgrace,
(A life unworthy of my race)
Muft I too bear the vile attacks
Of ragged fcrubs, and vulgar hacks?
See fcurvy Roan that brute ill-bred.
Dares from the manger thruft my head !
Shall I, who boaft a noble line.
On Offals of thefe creatures diiie ?
Kicked by old Ball ! fo mean a foe !
My honour fuffers by the blow •
Nkwmarket fpeaks my grarid fire's fame.
All jockiesftiU revere his ^tmine ;
There
P A B 1 £ S. ^jfe
There yearly are his triumphs told.
There all his mafly plates inroU'd.
Whene'er led forth upon the plain.
You faw him with a liv'ry train ;
Returning too with laurels crown'd.
You heard the xirums and trumpets found.
Let it then. Sir, be underftobd,
Refpeft's my due ; for I have blood.
Vain-glorious fool ! (the Carrier cry'd)
Refpe6l was never paid to pride.
Know, 'twas thy giddy wilful heart
Reduc'd thee to this flavifli part.
Did not thy headftrong youth difdain
To learn the conduft of the rein ?
Thus coxcombs, blind to real merits.
In vicious frolics fancy fpirit.
What is't to me by whom begot ?
Thou reftive, pert conceited fot.
Your fires I reverence ; 'tis their due :
But, worthlefs fool, what's that to you ?
Afk
220 FABLES.
Could fools to keep their own contrive,
' On what, on whom could gameflers thrive ?
Is it in charity you game.
To fave your worthy gang from (hame ?
Unlefs you furnifh^d daily bread.
Which way could idlenefs be fed ?
Could thefe profeffors of deceit
Within the law no longer cheat.
They muft run bolder riiks for prey.
And ftrip the traveler on the way.
Thus in your annual rents they fhare.
And Tcape the noofe from year to year.
Confider, *ere you make the bet.
That fum might crofs your taylor^s debt.
When you the pilfring rattle (hake.
Is not your honour too at flake ?
Muft you not by mean lies evade
To-morrow*s duns from evVy trade ?
By promifes fo often paid.
Is yet your taylor's bill defrayed ?
Muft you not pitifully fawn.
To have your butcher's writ withdrawn ?
This
FABLES. 221
This muft be done. In debts of play
Your honour fuflPers no delay :
And riot this yearns and next year's rent
The fons of rapine can content.
Look round. The wrecks of play behold,
*
Eftates difmember'd, mortgaged, fold!
Their owners, not to jails confin'd.
Shew equal poverty of mind.
Some, who- the fpoil of knaves were made.
Too late attempt to learn their trade;
Some, for the folly of one hour,
r .
Become the dirty tools of powV,
And, with the mercenary lift.
Upon court-charity fubfift.
Youll find at laft this maxim true.
Fools are the game which knaves purfue.
The foreft (a whole cent'ry's fliade)
Muft be one wafteful ruin made.
No mercy's fhewn to age or kind j
The general maflacre is fign'd. -
The
222 F A B L £ S.
The park too fhares the dreadful fate.
For duns grow louder at the gate.
Stern clowns, obedient to the 'Squire,
(What will not barb rous hands for hire?)
With brawny arms repeat the ftroke.
Fall'n are the elm and rev rend oak.
Through the long wood loud axes found.
And echo groans with ev'ry wounds
To fee the defolation fpread.
Pan drops a tear, and hangs his head :
His bofom now with fury burns :
Beneath his hoof the dice he fpurns.
Cards, too, in peevifh paffion torn.
The fport of whirling winds are borne.
To fnails invet'rate hate I bear.
Who fpoil the verdure of the year ;
The caterpillar I deteft,
The blooming fpring's voracious peft ;
The locuft too, whofe rav nous band
Spreads fudden famine o'er the land*
But
1 *
FABLES. 223
But what are thefe ? The dice's throw
At once hath laid "a foreft low.
The cards are dealt, theibet is made.
And the \^ide park hath loft its fhade.
Thus is my kingdom's 'pride defaced, .
And all its ancient glories wafte.
All this (he cries) is Fortune's doing :
^Tis thus fhe meditates my ruin; .a '..
By Fortune, that falfe fickle jade, - /
More havock in one hour is made.
Than all the hungry infeft race, : ^ :• ';
«
Combined, can in an age deface*
■ ' .' /. . • •
Fortune, by chance, who near him paft,
O'erheard the vile afperfion caft.
Why, Pan, (fays fhe) what's all this rant?
»Tis ev'ry country-bubble's cant.
Am I the patronefs of vice ? .
Is't I who cog or palm the dice ? . ! ; .
Did I the (huffling art reveal.
To mark the cards, or range the deal ?
In
^
2)24 FABLES.
In all th* employments men purfue,
I mind the leaft what gamefters do.
There may (if computation's juft)
One now and then my conduQ; truft :
I blame the fool, for what can I,
When ninety -nine my powV defy ?
Thefe truft alone their fingers ends^
And not one ftake on me depends.
Whene'er the gaming bo^d is fet^
Two clafles of mapikind are met :
But if we count the greedy r^ce.
The knaves fill up the greater fpacc.
'Tis a grofs error, held in fchools.
That FoKTUNi; always favours £9ols«
In play it never bears difpule ;
That do6lrine thefe fell'd oaks confute.
Then why to me fuch rancour fhcw ?
Tis Folly, Pan, that is thy £qc.
By me his late efta^te he won^
But he by FoUy was undone.
FABLE
k
FABLB Xm.
ifiSLS 3z:s-,
r
CABLES. 235
/
FABLE Xllt
PLUTUS> CUPID, AND TIME,
OF all the burdens mari muft bear^
Time feems moft galling and fevere :
Beneath this grievous load opprefs'd.
We daily meet fome friend diftrefs'd.
What can One do ? I rofe at nine*
*Tis fiill fix hours before we dine :
Six hours ! no earthly thing to do !
Wou'd I had doz'd in bed till two.
A pamphlet is before him fpread^
And almofl half a page is read ;
Titf'd with the ftudy of the day^
The flu*t Ving fhecits are tofs'd aWay.
He opes his fnufiF-^box^ hums an aii".
Then yawns^ and ftretches in his chair.
Q Not
226 .I\titt%
Not twenty, by the minute hand (
Good gods ! fays he, my watch mull ftand?
How muddling 'tis on books to pore !
I thought rd read an hour or more^
The morning, of all hours, I hate^
One can't contrive to rife too late*
To make the minutes fafter run.
Then too his tireforae felf to fhun.
To the next cofFee-houfe he fpeeds.
Takes up the news, fome fcraps he reads-
SauntVing, from chair to chair he trails ;
Now drinks his tea, now bites his nails.
He fpies a partner of his woe ; •
By chat affliftions lighter grow j
£ach other's grievances they ftiare, .
And thus their dreacjiful hours compare*
Says Tom, fince all men muft cbnfefs.
That Time lies heavy more or lefs ;
Why Ihould it be fo hard to get
Till two, a party at piquet?
Play
r^
t Able Si 227
t*iay might relieve the lagging morn :
By cards long wintry nights are borne :
l)oes not quadrille amiife the fair^
Night after night, throughout the year ?
«
Vapours and fpleen forgot, at play
They cheat uncounted hours away;
My cafe, lays Will, then muft be hard
by Want of ikill from play debarred.
Courtiers kill Time by various ways ;
Dependance wears out half their days^
How happy thefe^ whofe time ne'er ftands •
Attendance takes it off their hands*
Were it pot for this curfed fhpwV
The park had whiFd away an hour*
At CQ^rt, without or place or vieW^
I daily lofe an hpUr or two
It fully anfwers my defign.
When I have picked up friends to dine^
The tavern makes our burden light ;
wine puts our Time and care to flight. .
Q 2 A-t
22S FABLES.
At fix (hard cafe I) they call to pay.
Where can one go ? I hate the play.
From fix till ten ? Unlefs in fleep.
One cannot fpend the hours fo cheap.
The comedy's no fooner done.
But fome aflembly is begun ;
LoitVing from room to room I ftray ;
GDnverfe, but nothing hear or fay :
Quite tir'd, from fair to fair I roam.
So foon : I dread the thoughts of home.
From thence, to quicken flow-pac*d night,
■
Again my tavern-friends invite :
Here too our early mornings pafs.
Till drowfy fleep retards the glafs*
Thus they their wretfched life bemoan.
And make each other's cafe their own.
Confider, friends^ no hour rolls on.
But fotnething of your grief is gone.
Were you to fcherties of bus'nefs bred.
Did you the paths of learning tread.
Your
F A B L £ S. 229
Your hours, your days, would fly too faft ;
You'd then regret the minute part.
Time's fugitive and light as wind !
*Tis indolence that clogs your mind !
That load from off your fpirits (hake ;
You'll own and grievie for your miftake,
A while your thoughtlefs fpleen fufpend.
Then read, and (if you can) attend.
As Plutus, to divert his care.
Walked forth one morn to take the air,
Cupid overtook his ftrutting pace.
Each ftar'd upon the ftranger's face,
'Till recoUeftion fet 'em right ;
For each knew t'other but by fight.
After fome complimental talk.
Time met 'em, bow'd, and join'd their walk.
Their chat on various fubjefts ran.
But moft, what each had done for man.
Plu t u s affumes a haughty air,
Juft like our purfc-proud fellows here.
Let
23Q FABLES.
Let kings (fays he) let coblers tell,
Whofe gifts among mankind excel.
Confider courts : Wh^t draws their train p
Think you Yis loyalty or gain ?
That ftatefman hath the ftrongeft hold,
Whofe tool of politics is gold.
By that, in former reigns, *tis faid.
The knave in power hath fenates led.
By that alone he fway'd debates,
Enrich'd himfelf and beggared ftates.
Forego your boaft. You muft conclude,
That's moft efteem'd that's moft purfu*d.
Think too, in what a woeful plight
That wretch muft live whofe pocket's Ij^ht^
Are not his hours by want depreft ?
Penurious care corrodes his brea(|;.
Without refpeft, or love, or friends,
^is folitary day defcends,
You might, fays Cupip, doubt my parts.
My knowledge too in human hearts.
Should
FABLES. 231
Should I the pow'r of gold difputc.
Which great examples might cwifute.
I know, when nothing eHe prevail*,
Perfuafive money feldom fails ;
That beauty too (like other wares)
Its price, as well as confcience, bears.
Then marriage (as of late profefs*d) '
Is but a money-job at beft.
Confent, compliance may be fold :
But love's beyond the price of gold.
Smugglers there are, who by retail,
Expofe what they call love; to fale.
Such bargains are an arrant cheat ;
You purchafe flatt'ry and deceit.
Thofe who true love have ever try'd,
(The common cares of life fupply'd)
No wants endiire, no wiflies make.
But ev'ry real joy partake^
All comfort on themfelves depends ; .
They want nor pow'r, nor wealth, nor friends.
Love then hath ev'ry blifs in (lore :
Tis friendfhip, and 'tis fomething more.
Q 4 Each
\
232 FABLES.
Each other ev'ry with they give.
Not to know love, is not to live.
Or love, or money (Time reply 'd)
Were men the queftion to decide.
Would bear the prize : on both intent.
My boon's neglefted or mifpent.
•Tis I who meafure vital fpace.
And deal out years to human race.
Though little priz'd, and feldom fought ;
Without me love and gold are nought.
How does the mifer time employ ?
Did I e*er fee him life enjoy ?
By me forfook, the hoards he won.
Are fcatter'd by his lavifli fon.
By me all ufeful arts are gain'd ;
Wealth, learning, wifdom is attained.
Who then would think (fince fuch my powV)
That e'er I knew an idle hour ?
So fubtle and fo fwift I fly,
I^ove's not more fugitive than I,
Who hath not heard coquette's complain
Pf d^ys, mpnths, years, mifpent in vainp
For
FABLES. 233
For time misused they pine and wafte.
And love's fweet pleafures never tafte*
Thofe who direft their time aright.
If love or wealth their hopes excite.
In each purfuit fit hours employed,
And both by Time have been enjoy'd.
How heedlefs then are mortals grown !
How little is their int'reft known ?
In evVy view they ought to mind me ;
For when onge loft they never find me.
He fpoke. The gods no more conteft,
And his fuperior gift confeft ;
That Time when (truly underftood)
Js the moft precious earthly good*
.- V
FABLE
334 V A9l*^S*
FABLE XIV,
THE OWL, THE SWAN, THE COCK, THE
SPIDER, THE ASS, AND THE FARMER^
TO A MOTHER,
«
/CONVERSING with your;fprightlyboys,
^^ Your eyes have fpoke the Mother's joy s^
With what delight IVe heard you quote
Their fayings in iniperfeQ; note I
I grant, in body and in mind.
Nature appears profufely kind. ^
Truft not to that. A61 you your part ;
Imprint juft morals on their heart.
Impartially their talents fcan :
Juft education forms the man.
Perhaps (their genius yet unknown)
Each lot of life's already thrown ;
That
FABLES. 235
That this fliall plead, the next fliall fight.
The laft aflert the church's right,
I cenfure not the fond intent ;
But how precarious is th' event !
Py talents mifapply'd and croft,
Confider, all your foni are loft.
s
One day (the tale's by Martial penu'd)
A father thus addrcfs'd his friend.
To train my boy, and call forth fenfe.
You know IVe ftuck at no expencc ;
I've tried him in the fev'ral arts,
(The lad no doubt hath latent parts)
Yet trying all, he nothing knows ;
But, crab-like, rather backward goes.
Teach me what yet remains undone ;
'Tis your advice ftiall fix my fon.
Sir, fays the. friend, I've weigh'd the
matter ;
Excufe me, for I fcorn to flatter :
Make him (nor think his genius check'd)
A herald or an archited. .
Perhaps
2q6 f a b i^ s.
Perhaps (as commonly 'tis known)
He heard th' advice, and took his own.
The boy wants wit ; he's fent to fchool.
Where learning but improves the fool :
The college next muft give him parts.
And cram him with the lib'ral arts.
Whether he blunders at the bar,
Or owes his infamy to war;
Or if by licence or degree
The fexton fhares the doftor's fee :
Oa from the pulpit by the hour
He weekly floods of nonfenfe pour ;
We find (th' inttent of nature foiFd)
A taylor or a butcher fpoil'd^
*
Thus minifters have royal boons
Conferred on blockheads and buffoons ;
In fpite of nature, merit, wit.
Their friends for ev'ry poll were fit.
But now let ev'ry mufe confefs
That merit finds its due fuccefs.
Th'
F A B L £ S. 237
Th' examples of our days regard ;
Where's virtue feen without reward ?
Diftinguifh'd and in place you find
Defert and worth of ev'ry kind.
Survey the rev'rend bench, and fee.
Religion, learning, piety:
The patron, ere he recommends.
Sees his own image in his friend's.
Is honefty difgrac'd and poor ?
What is't to us what was before ?
We of all times corrupt have heard.
When paltry minions were preferred ;
When all great offices by dozens.
Were fiU'd by brothers, fons, and coufins^
What matter ignorance and pride ?
The man was happily ally'd.
Provided that his clerk was good.
What though he nothing underftood.
In church and ftate, the forry race
Grew more confpicuous fools in place*
Such
t33 f AhLt^,
Such heads* as then a treaty made^
Had bungled in the eobler's trader
Confider, natrons, that fuch elves^
Expofc your folly with themfelves*
T'is your*s, as 'tis the parent's care.
To fix each genius in its fphere^
Your partial hand can wealth difpenfe^
But never give a blockheajd fenfe^
4
An Owl of magifterial air^
Of Solemn voice, of brow aufterej
Afium'd the pride of human racc^
And bore his wifdom in his face }
Not to depreciate learned eyes^
IVe feen a pedant look as wife^
Within a barn, from noife retir'di
tie fqorn'd the world, himfelf admir'd ;
And, like an antient fage, concealed
Th^ fc^iUe^ public life reveal'd.
Philofophers
*abLes. £i35f
l^hilofophers of old, he read.
Their country's youth, to fcience brcdj.
Their manners forni'd for e v'ry ftation^
And deftin^d each his occupation.
When Xenophon, by numbers brav*4i
Retre?U:ed, and a people fav'd*
Thaf laurel was not all his own j
The plaot by Soc hates was fowxi^
To Aristotle*s greater name
The Macedonian ow'd his fame^
Th^ AxHENiAif bird, with pride replete,
Theijf talents equalFd in conceit ;
And, copying the Socratic rule^
jSct up for mafter of a fchool.
Dogmatic jargon learnt by heart,
<
Trite fentences, hard terms of art.
To vulgar ears feem'd fo profound.
They fancy *d learning in the fcxmd.^
The fchool had fame ; the crowded place
With pupils fwarm'd of ev Vy race.
With
240 fAble!s.
With thefe the Swan's maternal care
Had fent her fcarce*fledg'd cygnet heir i
The Hen (though fond and loth to part)
Here lodg'd the darling of her heart :
The Spider, of mechanic kind^
Afpir'd to fcience more refin'd :
The Afs learnt metaphors and tropes^
But mod on mafic fix'd his hopes^
The pupils now advanced iii ag^.
Were call'd to tread life's bufy ftage :
And to the mafter 'twas fubmitted.
That each might to his part be fitted.
The Swan (fays he) in arms fhall fhine:
The foldier's glorious toil be thine.
The Cock fhall mighty wealth attain :
Go, feek it on the ilormy main.
The Court fhall be the Spider's fphere I
Pow r, fortune, fhall reward him there*
In mufic's art the Afs's fame
Shall emulate Corelli's name^
Each
F Ad L £ $• 241
fiach took the part that he advis'd^
And all were equally defpis'd,
A Farmer, at his folly mov'd.
The dull preceptor thus reprov'd*
Blockhead (fays he) by what youVe donti^
One would have thought 'em each your fon:
For parents, to their offspring blind,
Confult nor parts nor turn of mind ;
But ev n in infancy decree
What this^ what t'other fon fhould be.
Had you with judgment weigh'd the cafe^
Their genius thus had fix'd their place.
The Swan had learnt the failor's art ;
The cock had play'd the foldier's part ;
The Spider in the weaver's trade
With credit had a fortune made ;
But for the fool, in ev'ry clafs
The blockhead had appear'd an Afs«
R mble;
242 TABLE S.
FABLE XV.
THE COOK*MAIDj THE TURNSPIT, AND
THE OX.
TO A POOR MAN.
/CONSIDER man in ev'ry fphere.
Then tell me is your lot fevere ?
'Tis murmur, difqontent, ' diilruft.
That makes you wretched. God is juft.
I grant, that hunger muit be fed.
That toil top earas thy daily bread.
What then ? Thy wants are fcen and known^
But ev'ry mortal feels his own*
WeVe born a refUefs needy crew ;
Shew me the happier man than you.
Adam, though bleft above his kind^
For want of focial woman pin'd,
EvE-s
]kabm;xv.
FABLE Xyi.
\
FAfiJL£S« 243
Eve's wants the fubtlc ferpent faw,
Her fickle tafte tranfgfefs^d the law :
Thus fell our fires ; and their difgrace
The curfe entail'd on human race.
When Philip's fon, by glory led.
Had oer the globe his empire fpread j
when altars to his name were drefs'd,
That he was man, his tears confefs'd*
The hopes of avVice are checked r
The proud man always wants refpeft.
What various wants on pow r attend ?
Ambition never gains its end*
Who hath not heard the rich complain
Of furfeits and corporeal pain ?
He, barr*d from ev'ry ufe of wealth,
Envieff the plowman's ftrength and healths
Another in a beauteous wife
Finds all the miferies of life : *
Domeftic jars and jealous fear
Imbitter all his days with care.
R 2 This
244 FABLES.
This wants an heir, th6 line is loft J
Why was that vain entail ingroft ?
Canft thou difcern another's mind ?
Why is't you envy ? Envy's blind*
Tell Envy, when (he would annoy.
That thoufands want what you enjoy.
The dinner muft be difli'd at one.
Where's this vexatious Turnfpit goi^e ?
Unlefs the fkulking Cur i^ caught.
The furloin's fpoil'd, and I'm in fault.
Thus faid : (for fure you'll think it fit
That I the Cook-maid's oaths omit)
With all the fury of a Cook,
Her cooler kitchen Nan forfook.
The broomftick o'er her head flie waves ;
She fweats, fhe ftamps, fhe pufis, flie raves.
The fneaking Cur before her flies :
She whiftles, calls ; fair fpeech fhe tries.
Thefe nought avail. Her choler burns ;
The fift and cudgel threat by turns.
With
FABLES. ' 245
With hafty ftride flie preffes near ;
He {links aloof, and howls with fear.
Was ever Cur fo curs'd ! (he cry'd)
What ftar did at my birth prefide!
Am I for life by compaft bound
To tread the wheel's eternal round ?
Inglorious tafk ! Of all our race
No' flave is half fo mean and bafe.
Had fate a kinder lot aflign'd.
And form'd me of the lap-dog kind,
I then, in higher life employed,
Had indolence and eafe enjoy 'd ;
And, like a gentleman, careft,^
Had been the lady's fav'rite gueft.
Or were I fprung from fpaniel line.
Was his fagacious noftril mine.
By me, their never-erring guide.
From wood and plain their feafts fupply'd.
Knights, Tquires, attendant on my pace.
Had fhar'd the plcafures of the chace.
Endu'd with native ftrength and fire.
Why caird I not the lion fire ?
R 3 A lion !
246 FABLES*
A lion ! fuch mean views I fcom.
Why was I not of woman bom ?
Who dares with reafon's powV contend ?
On man we brutal Haves depend :
To him all creatures tribute pay.
And luxury employs his days.
An ox by chance overheard his moan.
And thus rebuk'd the lazy drone*
Dare you at partial fate repine ?
How kind's your lot compared with mine !
Decreed to toil, the barb'rous knife
Hath fever'd me from focial life ;
Urg'd by the ftimulating goad,
I drag the cumbrous waggon's load :
'Tis mine to tame the ftubborn plain.
Break the ftiflF foil, and houfe the grain ;
Yet I without a murmur bear
The various Jabours of the year.
But then confider, that one day,
(Perhaps the hour's not far away)
You,
\
FABLES. 247
You, by the duties of your poft.
Shall turn the fpit when Tm the roaft :
And for reward (hall fhare the feaft,
I mean, fhall pick my bones at lead.
Till now, the aflonifh'd Cur replies,
I look'd on all with envious eyes.
How falfe we judge by what appears !
All creatures feel their fevVal cares.
If thus yon mighty beaft complains^
Perhaps man knows fuperior pains.
Let envy then no more tormeht :
Think on the Ox, and learn content*
Thus faid : clofe following at her heel.
With chearful heart he mounts the wheel.
FABLE
{248 FABLES,
FABLE XVI.
TH? RAVENS, THE SEXTON, AND TH^
EARTH-WORM,
TO LAURA.
J AURA, methinks you're over nice.
True. Flatt'ry is a fliocking vice i
Yet fure, whene'er the praife is juft.
One may commend without difguft.
Am I a privilege deny'd,
Indulg'd by ev'ry tongue befide ?
How Angular, are all your ways !
A woman, and averfe to praife !
|f 'tis offence fuch truths to tell.
Why do your merits thus expel ?
Since then I dare not fpeak my mind,
A truth confpicijous to mankind j
Though
F A B L £ S» 2^
Though in full luftre ev'ry grace
Diftinguifh your celeftial face :
Though beauties of inferior ray
(Like ftars before the orb of day)
Turn pale and fade : I check my lays^
Admiring what I dare not praife^
If you the tribute due difdain.
The Mufe's mortifying ft rain
Shall, like a woman, in mere fpite.
Set bejLuty in a mor^l light.
Though fuch revenge might fliock the ear
Of many a celebrated fair ;
I mean that fuperficial race
Whofe thoughts near reach beyond their
face;
What's th^t to you ? I but difpleafe
Such ever-girlifh ears as thefe.
Virtue can brook the thoughts of age.
That laftg tl;e fame through eyVy ftage.
Though
250 FABLES.
Though you by time muft fuffier more
Than ever woman loft before ;
To age is fuch indiflTrence (hown.
As if your face were not your own.
Were you by Antoninus taught ?
Or is it native ftrength of thought.
That thus, without concern or fright.
You view yourfelf by reafon's light ?
Thofe eyes of fo divine a ray.
What are they ? Mould ring, mortal clay.
Thofe features, caft in heav'nly mould.
Shall, like ray coarfer earth grow old ;
Like common grafs, the faireft flow'r
Mull feel the hoary feafon's pow'r.
How weak, how vain is human pride !
Dares man upon himfelf confide ?
The wretch who glories in his gain,
Amaffes heaps on heaps in vain.
Why lofe we life in anxious cares.
To lay in hoards for future years ?
Can
I
FABLES. 251
Can thofe (when tortured by difeafe)
Chear our fick heart, or purchafe eafe ?
Can thofe prolong one gafp of breath.
Or calm the troubled hour of death.
What's beauty ? Call ye that your own?
A flow'r that fades as foon as blown.
What's man in all his boaft of fway ? •
Perhaps the tyrant of a day.
Alike the laws of life take place
Through ev'ry branch of human race.
The monarch of long regal line
Was rais'd from duft as frail as mine.
Can he pour health into his veins.
Or cool the fever's reftlefs pains ?
Can he (worn down in Nature's courfe)
New^brace his feeble nerves with force ?
Can he (how vain is mortal pow'r !)
Stretch life beyond the deftin'd hour?
Confider,
Confider, man ; weigh well thy frame ;
The king, the beggar is the fame.
Duft forms us all. Each breathes his day.
Then 'finks into his native clay.
«
Beneath a venerable yew.
That in the lonely church-yard grew.
Two Ravens fat. In folemn croak
Thus one his hungry friend befpoke.
Methinks I fcent fome rich repaft ;
The favour ftrengthens with the blaft ;
SnufF then, the promised feaft inhale ;
I tafte the carcafe in the gale.
Near yonder trees^ the farhier's fteed.
From toil and daily drudg'ry freed.
Hath groan'd his laft. A' dainty treat !
To birds of tafte delicious meat,
A Sexton, bufy at his trade.
To hear their chat fufpends his fpade.
Death
FABLES. 253
Death flf uck him with no farther thought^
Than merely as the fees he brought.
Was ever two fuch blund'ring fowls^
In brains and manners lefs than owk \
Blockheads, fays he, learn more refpeft.
Know ye on whom you thus refleft ?
In this fame grave (who does me right,
Muft own the work is ftrong and tight)
The 'Squire that yon fair hall poffefs'd.
To-night fhall lay his bones at reft.
Whence could the grofs miftake proceed ?
The 'Squire was fomewhat fat indeed.
What then ? The meaneft bird of prey
Such want of fenfe could ne'er betray ;
For fure fome diff'rence muft be found
(Suppofe the fmelling organ found)
In carcaffes (fay what we can)
Or Where's the dignity of man ?
With due refpeft to human race.
The Ravens undertook the cafe.
In fuch fimilitude of fcent,
Man ne'er could think reflexions meant
As
254 F A fi L £ S.
As cpicufes extol a treat.
And feem their fav'ry words to eat.
They prais'd tiead horfe, luxurious food.
The ven'fon of the prefcient brood.
The Sexton's indignation mov'd.
The mean comparifon reprov'd ;
The undifceming palate blam'd.
Which two-legg'd carrion thus defamed.
Reproachful fpeech from either fide
The want of argument fupply'd :
They rail, revile : as often ends
The conteft of difputing friends.
Hold, fays the Fowl ; fince human pride
With confutation ne'er comply'd.
Let's ftate the cafe, and then refer
The knotty point : for tafte may ern
i
As thus he fpoke, from out the mould
An Earth-worm, huge of fize, unroU'd
Hit
FABL£S« 255
His monftrous length. They ftrait agree
To choofe him as their referee.
So to th' experience of his jaws.
Each ilates the merits of his caufe.
He paus'd^ and with a folemn tone^
Thus made his fage opinion known.
On carcafes of cv'ry kind
This maw hath elegantly din*d ;
Provok'd by luxury or need^
On beaft, on fowl, on man, I feed ;
Such fmall diftinftions in the favour.
By turns I chufe the fancy'd flavour.
Yet I muft own (that human beaft)
A glutton is the rankeft feaft.
Man, ceafe this boaft; for human pride
Hath various trads to range befide.
The prince who kept the world in awe.
The judge whofe diftate fix'd the law.
The rich, the poor, the great, the fmall.
Are leveird. Death confounds 'em all.
Then
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