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The dus befpoke his gueft:
Wardy beaft fhall dare conteft
Wyhiefs ftrength? You faw the fight,
And mat atteft my pow'r and right.
Ford to forego their native home,
Marving flaves at distance roam;
With these woods I reign alone,
The boundless forest is my own.

Bears waves, and all the favage brood,
Have the regal den with blood.
Theres on either hand,

The bes that whiten all the land.
My

deeds and triumphs tell,

Beth thefe jaws what numbers fell.
True, uys the man, the strength I faw
Might well the brutal nation awe:
Bu halla monarch, brave like you,
Face" glory in to falfe a view?

invade their neighbours' right:
Beod. let juftice bound your might.
Mes are ambitious heroes boasts
Od lands and flaughtered hosts:

their pow'r by murders gain;
We love and mercy reign.
Ta demency hath fhown
The thy of a throne.
Has you pow'r above the rest,
Lato fuccour the diftreft.
The cak i plain, the monarch faid;
Fae glory hath my youth misled;
Fors of prey, a fervile train,
Have

the fatt'rers of my reign. well. Yet tell me, friend, Dad ever prin courts attend? Bring rogues agree, Tres rule lile me.

My whifper always met fuccefs;
The ladies prais'd me for addrefs.
I knew to hit each courtier's paffion,
And flatter'd ev'ry vice in fashion.
But Jove, who hates the liar's ways,
At once cut fhort my profp'rous days;
And, fentenc'd to retain my nature,
Transform'd me to this crawling creature.
Doom'd to a life obfcure and mean,
I wander in this fylvan scene.
For Jove the heart alone regards;
He punishes what man rewards.
How different is thy cafe and mine!
With men at least you fup and dine;
While I, condemn'd to thinnest fare,
Like those I flatter'd, feed on air.

§ 123. FABLE III. The Mother, the Nurse,
and the Fairy.

GIVE me a Son. The bieffing fent,
Were ever parents more content?
How partial are their doting eyes!
No child is half fo fair and wife.
Wak'd to the morning's pleafing care,
The mother rofe, and fought her heir.
She faw the Nurfe, like one poffett,
With wringing hands, and fobbing breast.
Sure fome difafter has 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 convey'd,.
And in the place a changeling laid.
Where are the father's mouth and nose,
The mother's eyes, as black as floes?
See here, a fhocking, awkward creature,

122 FALL The Spaniel and the Cameleon. That speaks a fool in ev'ry feature.

A Sed with all the care Thx a fav'rite heir, Nerection's rigid hand : Ito diobey command, perdeafe his hours were spent ; rew what learning meant. 1. warders, fo pert, so smart, Te to win his lady's heart: emischief gain'd him praise; y were his fawning ways! d was fouth, the morning fair, es forth to take the air: all the meadow round, pon the fofteft ground; Lima Cameleon feen diftinguish'd from the green. m of the flatt'ring hoft, with clowns? a genius loft! ed the court repair, tannot fail thee there; all thy talents crown: Bend, I know the town. e tycophant, like you, terlife I knew: courtier born and bred, And an ear to what I faid.

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The woman 's blind, the mother cries;
I fee wit fparkle in his eyes.

Lord, Madam, what a fquinting leer!
No doubt the Fairy hath been here.

Juft as the fpoke, a pigmy Sprite,
Pops through the key-hole, fwift as light;
Perch'd on the cradle's top he stands,
And thus her folly reprimands:

Whence fprung the vain conceited lie,
That we the world with fools fupply?
What! give our fprightly race away,
For the dull helpless fons of clay!
Befides, by partial fondness fhewn,
Like you, we doat upon our own.
Where yet was ever found a mother,
Who'd give her booby for another?
And thould we change with human breed,
Well might we pafs for fools indeed.

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For ev'ry thing alive complain'd
That he the hardest life fuftain'd.
Jove calls his Eagle. At the word
Before him ftands the royal bird.
The bird, obedient, from heaven's height
Downward directs 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 skies?
Why this diforder? fay the cause;
For just are Jove's eternal laws.
Let each his difcontent reveal;
To yon four Dog I first 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 chace begun,
Nor ends it till the fetting fun.

When (fays the Greyhound) I purfue, My game is loft, or caught in view; Beyond my fight the prey's fecure: The Hound is flow, but always furel And had I his fagacious scent, Jove ne'er had heard my discontent.

The Lion crav'd the Fox's art; The Fox the Lion's force and heart; The Cock implor'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 Fishes with'd to graze the plain; The Beasts to skim beneath the main. Thus, envious of another's ftate, Each blam'd the partial hand of Fate.

The Bird of Heaven then cried aloud: Jove bids difperfe the murm'ring crowd; The God rejects your idle prayers, Would ye, rebellious mutineers, Entirely change your name and nature, And be the very envied creature? What! filent all, and none confent? Be happy then, and learn content: Nor imitate the reftlefs mind, And proud ambition of mankind.

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125. FABLE. V. The Wild Boar and the Ram. AGAINST an elm a fheep was tied, The butcher's knife in blood was dyed; The patient flock, in filent fright, From far beheld the horrid fight: A favage Boar, who near them stood, Thus mock'd to fcorn the fleecy brood: All cowards fhould be ferv'd like you; See, fee, your murd 'rer is in view! With purple hands, and reeking knife, He ftrips the fkin yet warm with life: Your quarter'd fires, your bleeding dams, The dying bleat of harmless lambs, Call for revenge. O ftupid race! The heart that wants revenge is bafe. I grant, an ancient Ram replies, We bear no terror in our eyes:

Yet think us not of foul so tame, Which no repeated wrongs inflame, Infenfible of ev'ry ill,

Because we want thy tufks to kill.
Know, those who violence purfue,
Give to themselves the vengeance due;
For in these maflacres they find

The two chief plagues that wafte manking
Our fkins fupplies the wrangling bar;
It wakes their flumb'ring fons to war;
And well revenge may reft contented,
Since drums and parchment were invented

§ 126. FABLE VI. The Mifer and Plu
THE wind was high, the window shakes;
With fudden ftart the Mifer wakes;
Along the filent room he ftalks;
Looks back, and trembles as he walks!
Each lock and ev'ry bolt he tries,
In ev'ry creek and corner pries;
Then opes the cheft with treasure stor'd,
And ftands in rapture o'er his hoard.
But now, with fudden qualms poffeft,
He wrings his hands, he beats his breaft;
By confcience ftung, he widely ftares,
And thus his guilty foul declares:

Had the deep earth her ftores confin'd, This heart had known sweet 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 pow'r defeat?
Gold banish'd honour from the mind,
And only left the name behind;
Gold fow'd the world with ev'ry ill;
Gold taught the murderer's fword to kill:
'Twas gold inftructed coward hearts
In treachery's more pernicious arts.
Who can recount the mischiefs o'er?
Virtue refides on earth no more!
He fpoke, and figh'd. In angry mood,
Plutus, his god, before him ftood.
The Mifer, trembling, lock'd his cheft;
The vifion frown'd, and thus addrefs'd:
Whence is this vile ungrateful rant,
Each fordid rafcal's daily cant?
Did I, base wretch, corrupt mankind!
The fault 's in thy rapacious mind.
Because my bleffings are abus'd,
Muft I be cenfur'd, curs'd, accus'd?
E'en virtue's felf by knaves is made
A cloak to carry on the trade;

And pow'r (when lodg'd in their poffeffion)
Grows tyranny, and rank oppreffion,
Thus, when the villain crams his cheft,
Gold is the canker of the breaft;
'Tis av'rice, infolence, and pride;
And ev'ry thocking vice befide:
But when to virtuous hands 'tis given,
It bleffes like the dews of heaven;
Like heaven, it hears the orphan's cries,
And wipes the tears from widows' eyes.
Their crimes on gold fhall mifers lay,
Who pawn'd their fordid souls for pay?

Le bow then (when blood is fpilt) paffive fword with guilt.

FABLE VII. The Lion, the Fox, and the Geefe.

Als, tir'd with state affairs,

cf pomp, and worn with cares; vote from noife and ftrife) laps his latter life.

acaim'd: the day was fet:
gen`ral council met.

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The Fa, was viceroy nam'd.

The crowd dex regent humbly bow`d.

Б ves, bears, and mighty tigers bend, Aart who moft fhall condefcend.

fumes a folemn grace,

As wildom in his face.
admire his wit, his fenfe;
hath weight and confequence.
etter all his art difplays,
Bhath pow'r is fure of praise,
`d forth before the reft,
the fervile throng address'd:
is talents, born to rule,
virtue's honest school!

y his temper fways!
t are an his ways!
onduct and command
cafe to waite the land,
tratagem and art;
dence and mercy rule his heart.
muft attend the nation
god administration!

A Goofe who distant stood,
ad the cackling brood:
Wretara knave commend,
His worthy friend.

at mighty commendation!
But who spoke th' oration.
Fosgnment may prize,
Ante, attal, and wife;

y the fweets, 'tis plain,
Gee ruft feel a tyrant reign.
.ck now fhall thin our race,
petty clerk in place,
tofte and feem polite,
dca Geefe both noon and night!

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As Doris, at her toilet's duty,
Sat meditating on her beauty,
She now was penfive, now was gay,
And loll'd the fultry hours away.

As thus in indolence the lies,
A giddy Wafp around her flies.
He now advances, now retires,
Now to her neck and cheek afpires.
Her fan in vain defends her charms;
Swift he returns, again alarms:
For by repulfe he bolder grew,
Perch'd on her lip, and fipp'd the dew.

She frowns, the frets. Good gods! fhe cries,
Protect me from thefe teafing flies!
Of all the plagues that heaven hath sent,
A Wafp is moft impertinent.

The hov'ring infect thus complain'd:
Am I then flighted, fcorn'd, difdain'd?
Can fuch offence your anger wake?
'Twas beauty caus'd the bold mistake.
Thofe cherry lips that breathe perfume,
That cheek fo ripe with youthful bloom,
Made me with strong defire pursue
The fairest 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 ecstacies away he posts;
Where'er he came the favour boasts;
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 fhare the dainties of the day, Round her with airy mufic play; And now they flutter, now they reft, Now foar again, and skim her breast. Nor were they banish'd till the found That Wafps have ftings, and felt the wound. § 129. The Bull and the Mafliff. SEEK 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 tried: Weigh well his manners, life, and scope; On thefe depends thy future hope.

FABLE IX.

As on a time, in peaceful reign,
A Bull enjoy'd the flow'ry plain,
A Maftiff pass'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 stood,
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 rest?
From thefe alone unjustly fprings
The world-deftroying wrath of kings.
The furly Mastiff thus returns:
Within my bofom glory burns.

Like heroes of eternal name,
Whom poets fing, I fight for fame.
The butcher's fpirit-ftirring mind
To daily war my youth inclin'd;
He traip'd me to heroic deed;
Taught me to conquer or to bleed.
Curs'd Dog! the Bull replied; no more
I wonder at thy thirst 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 pursue.
Take then thy fate. With goring wound,
At once he lifts him from the ground:
Aloft the sprawling hero flies;
Mangled he falls, he howls, and dies.

A dog proficient in the trade!
He the chief flatt'rer nature made!
Go, Man, the ways of courts difcern,
You'll find a fpaniel ftill might learn.
How can the Fox's theft and plunder
Provoke his cenfure or his wonder?
From courtier tricks, and lawyers arts,
The fox might well improve his parts.
The lion, wolf, and tiger's brood,
He curfes for their thirft of blood:
But is not man to man a prey?
Beafts kill for hunger, men for pay.

The Bookfeller, who heard him speak,
And faw him turn a page of Greek,
Thought, what a genius have I found?
Then thus addrefs'd with bow profound:
Learn'd Sir, if you'd employ your pen
Against the fenfelefs fons of men,

$130. FABLE X. The Elephant and the Bookfeller. Or write the hiftory of Siam,

THE man who with undaunted toils
Sails unknown feas to unknown foils,
With various wonders feafts his fight:
What ftranger wonders does he write!
We read, and in defcription view
Creatures which Adam never knew:
For, when we risk no contradiction,
It prompts the tongue to deal in fiction,
Thofe things that startle me or you,
I grant are ftrange, yet may be true.
Who doubts that Elephants are found
For fcience and for fenfe renown'd?
Borri 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 how by travel understand
The language of another land.
Let thofe who question this report,
To Pliny's ancient page refort;
How learn'd was that fagacious breed!
Who now like them the Greek can read!
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 exacteft care and pains
Were ev'ry beaft and bird portray'd,
That e'er the fearch of man furvey'd.
Their natures and their pow'rs 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 strong reafon is endow'd;
A beaft fcarce inftinct is allow'd.
But let this author's work be tried:
'Tis plain that neither was his guide.
Can he difcern the different natures,
And weigh the pow'r of other creatures,
Who by the partial work hath fhewn
He knows fo little of his own?
How falfely is the fpaniel drawn!
Did man f.om him firft learn to fawn?

No man is better pay than I am;
Or, fince you 're learn'd in Greek, let's fet
Something against the Trinity.

When, wrinkling with a fneer his trunk,
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 men.
They unprovok'd will court the fray;
Envy 's a fharper fpur than pay.
No author ever fpar'd a brother;
Wits are game-cocks to one another.

§ 131. FABLE XI. The Peacock, the Turke
and the Goofe.

IN 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 view'd 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'ns o'er-arching fkies,
Are fpangled with a thousand eyes:
The circling rays, and varied light,
At once confound their dazzled fight:
On ev'ry tongue detraction burns,
And malice prompts their spleen by turns:
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 skin.
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 fqualling throat!
Ev'n owls are frighted at the note.

Tru

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True it are faults, the Peacock cries; Mre, my thanks, you may defpife: Be och iad critics rail in vain:

verlook my radiant train ! Acid my legs (your scorn and sport) Turkey or the Goose support,

dye fcream with harsher found, efats in you had ne'er been found! rent beauties blind,

Labber trikes an envious mind.
Theemblies have I seen

A brightest charms and mien,
Watery in each ugly face;

And warring fcandal fills the place.

Av'rice, whatever fhape it bears, Muft ftill be coupled with its cares.

$133. FABLE XIII.

The Tame Stag.

As a young Stag the thicket pafs'd,
The branches held his antlers faft;
A clown, who faw the captive hung,
Across the horns his halter flung.

Now fafely hamper'd in the cord,
He bore the prefent to his lord.
His lord was pleas'd; as was the clown,
When he was tipp'd with a half-a-crown.
The Stag was brought before his wife;
The tender lady begg'd his life.

How fleek's the skin! how fpeck'd like ermine!

1152 PABLE XII. Cupid, Hymen, and Plutus. Sure never creature was fo charming!

A

in Cythera's grove

I'd the lefler pow'rs of love;

See the bow, or fit the string; Save the taper shaft its wing, to the polish'd quiver's mould, tead the darts with temper'd gold. their tail and various care, Then, with affuming air, And the god: Thou purblind chit, Cr and ill-judging wit, Itches are not better made, A ze Imut forfwear my trade. Yend me fuch ill-coupled folks,

tahune to fell them yokes;
Tute for a pin, a feather,

wonder how they came together.
Ind's fullen, dogged, shy;
The grows tippant in reply;
Had and due restriction,
Askes contradiction:
Sever favky submits;
Sheave her will, or have her fits:
Heway g, the t'other draws;
The man grus jealous, and with cause:

trang cave him but divorce:
And here the wife complies of course.
Ways the boy, had I to do
ether your affairs or you?
1ypent my darts;
I in mercenary hearts.
at the lawyer's feed;
dwitness to the deed?
Im a cat and dog agree,

G

t

Piutus, not at me.

Pepper'd, and faid—'Tis true,
gold is all their view;
beauty, wit, or fense;

Antafeldom the pretence.
Aame at my thrine,
At the bargain fign.
Hinda blame her fate?
Seconda great estate.

wch enough, 'tis true; muft give her title too : Atery man, or rich or poor, A true aks, and aiks no more.

At first, within the yard confin'd,
He flies, and hides from all mankind;
Now, bolder grown, with fix'd amaze,
And diftant awe, prefumes to gaze:
Munches the linen on the lines,
And on a hood or apron dines;
He fteals my little mafter's bread,
Follows the fervants to be fed:
Nearer and nearer now he ftands,
To feel the praise of patting hands;
Examines every fift for meat,
And, though repuls'd, difdains retreat;
Attacks again with levell'd horns;
And man, that was his terror, fcorns.

Such is the country 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 ftand,
Nor from his fqueeze withdraws her hand.
She plays familiar in his arms,

And ev'ry foldier hath his charms.
From tent to tent she spreads her flame;
For custom conquers fear and shame.

$134. FABLE XIV. The Monkey who had feen the World.

A MONKEY, to reform the times,
Refolv'd to vifit foreign climes :
For men in diftant regions roam
To bring politer manners home.
So forth he fares, all toil defies;
Misfortune ferves to make us wife.

At length the treach'rous snare was laid;
Poor Pug was caught, to town convey'd,
There fold. How envied 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 knots, he cracks her fan,
Like any other gentleman.

In vifits too his parts and wit,
When jefts grew dull, were fure to hit,
Proud with applause, he thought his mind
In ev'ry courtly art refin'd;

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