Not when the welkin rung with "one and

all;"

And echoes bounded back from Fox's hall: Earth feem'd to fink beneath, and heaven above to fall.

With might and main they chac'd the murderous fox,

750

With brazen trumpets, and inflated box,
To kindle Mars with military founds,
Nor wanted horns to infpire fagacious hounds.
But fee how Fortune can confound the wife,
And when they leaft expect it, turn the dice.
The captive-cock, who fcarce cou'd draw his
breath,

And lay within the very jaws of death ;
Yet in this agony his fancy wrought,

755

And fear fupply'd him with this happy thought:
Your's is the prize, victorious prince, faid he,
The vicar my defeat, and all the village fee. 760
Enjoy your friendly fortune while you may,
And bid the churls that envy you the prey
Call back their mungril curs, and cease their
cry,

See fools, the fhelter of the wood is nigh,
And Chanticleer in your despite shall die, 765
He fhall be pluck'd and eaten to the bone.

'Tis well advis'd, in faith it shall be done; This Reynard faid: but as the word he spoke, The prifoner with a fpring from prifon broke:

Then stretch'd his feather'd fans with all his

might,

770

And to the neighbouring maple wing'd his flight.

Whom when the traitor fafe on tree beheld, He curs'd the gods, with fhame and forrow

fill'd;

775

Shame for his folly, forrow out of time,
For plotting an unprofitable crime;
Yet mastering both, the artificer of lyes
Renews the affault, and his last battery tries.
Though I, said he, did ne'er in thought of-

fend,

780

How juftly may my lord fufpect his friend?
The appearance is against me, I confess,
Who feemingly have put you in diftrefs:
You, if your goodness does not plead my cause,
May think I broke all hospitable laws,

To bear you from your palace-yard by might,
And put your noble person in a fright:

785

This, fince you take it ill, I must repent, Though Heaven can witness, with no bad in

tent

I practis'd it, to make
you tafte your cheer
With double pleasure, first prepar'd by fear.
So loyal fubjects often feize their prince, 790
Forc'd (for his good) to seeming violence,
Yet mean his facred perfon not the least of-
fence.

Defcend; fo help me Jove, as you shall find
That Reynard comes of no diffembling kind.

Nay, quóth the cock; but I befhrew us both, If I believe a faint upon his oath:

796

An honeft man may take a knave's advice,
But idiots only may be cozen'd twice:
Once warn'd is well bewar'd; no flattering

lies

Shall footh me more to fing with winking

eyes,

800

And open mouth, for fear of catching flies.
Who blindfold walks upon a river's brim,
When he fhould fee, has he deferv'd to fwim?
Better, fir cock, let all contention cease,
Come down, faid Reynard, let us treat of

peace.

A peace with all

805

my foul, faid Chanticleer; But, with your favour, I will treat it here: And left the truce with treafon fhould be mixt, 'Tis my concern to have the tree betwixt.

THE MORAL.

In this plain fable you the effect

may

fee 810

Of negligence, and fond credulity:
And learn befides of flatterers to beware,

Then most pernicious when they speak too fair.
The cock and fox, the fool and knave imply;
The truth is moral, though the tale a lye. 815

Who spoke in parables, I dare not fay;
But fure he knew it was a pleafing way,
Sound fenfe, by plain example, to convey.
And in a heathen author we may find,
That pleasure with inftruction should be join'd;
So take the corn, and leave the chaff behind.,

819

THE

FLOWER AND THE LEAF*:

OR, THE

LADY IN THE ARBOUR.

A VISION.

Now turning from the wintry figns, the fun His course exalted through the Ram had run, And whirling up the skies, his chariot drove Through Taurus, and the lightfome realms of love;

Where Venus from her orb defcends in fhowers, To glad the ground, and paint the fields with flowers:

6

It is fingularly ftrange that our author, enumerating the different pieces of Chaucer that he has verfified, thould not fay a fyllable of this exquifite and elegant vifion, which of all his compositions is perhaps the most perfectly melodious.

Dr. J. WARTON.