Like Heav'n, 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 fouls for pay! Let bravoes then (when blood is spilt) Upbraid the paffive fword with guilt.
But who can drive the num'rous breed!
Chace one, another will fucceed.
Who knows a fool must know his brother;
One fop will recommend another:
And with this plague she's rightly curst,
Because the liften'd to the firft.
As Doris, at her toilet's duty,'
Sat meditating on her beauty,
§ 142. Fable VII. The Lion, the Fox, and the She now was penfive, now was gay,
LION, tir'd with state affairs,
Quite fick of pomp, and worn with cares, Refolv'd (remote from noise and strife)
In peace to pafs his latter life.
It was proclaim'd; the day was fet:
Behold the gen'ral council met.
The Fox was Viceroy nam'd.
To the new Regent humbly bow'd.
Wolves, bears, and mighty tygers bend,
And strive who moft fhall condescend.
He ftrait affumes a folemn grace,
Collects his wifdom in his face.
The crowd admire his wit, his sense;
Each word hath weight and confequence
The flatt'rer all his art difplays :
He who hath pow'r is fure of praife.
A Fox ftept forth before the reft,
And thus the fervile throng addrest:
How vast his talents, born to rule,
And train'd in virtue's honeft fchool!
What clemency his temper sways;
How uncorrupt are all his ways!
Beneath his conduct and command
Rapine fhall ceafe to wafte the land,
His brain hath ftratagem and art;
Prudence and mercy rule his heart;
What bleffings must attend the nation
Under this good administration!
He faid. A goose, who distant stood, Harangu'd apart the cackling brood:
Whene'er I hear a knave commend, He bids me thun his worthy friend. What praife! what mighty commendation ! But 'twas a Fox who spoke th'oration. Foxes this government may prize, As gentle, plentiful, and wife; If they enjoy the fweets, 'tis plain, We geefe muft feel a tyrant reign. What havock now fhall thin our race, When ev'ry petty clerk in place, To prove his tafte, and feem polite, Will feed on Geele both noon and night!
$143. Fable VIII. The Lady and the Wafp. WHAT whispers muft the beauty bear!
What hourly nonienfe haunts her ear! Where'er her eyes difpenfe their charms, Impertinence around her fwarms. Did not the tender nonfenfe ftrike, Contempt and fcorn might foon diflike: Forbidding airs might thin the place, The flightest flap a fly can chace.
And loll'd the fultry hours away.
As thus in indolence the lies,
A giddy Walp 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 fipt the dew.
She frowns, the frets. Good gods! fhe cries,
Protect me from thefe teazing flies!
Of all the plagues that Heav'n hath fent,
A Wafp is moft impertinent.
The hov'ring infect thus complain'd:
Am I then flighted, scorn'd, disdain'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 ftrong defire pursue
The fairest peach that ever grew.
Strike him not, Jenny, Doris cries,
Nor murder Wafps like vulgar flies:
For tho' he's free (to do him right)
The creature's civil and polite.
In ecftacies away he posts;
Where'er he came the favour boafts;
Brags how her fweetest 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 fkim her breaft.
Nor were they banish'd till fhe found
That Wafps have ftings, and felt the wound.
§ 144. Fable IX. The Bull and the Maftiff
SEEK you to train your fav'rite boy?
Each caution, ev'ry care employ :
And cre you venture to confide,
Let his preceptor's heart be try'd:
Weigh well his manners, life, and scope;
On these depends thy future hope.
As on a time, in peaceful reign,
A Bull enjoy'd the flow'ry plain,
A Maftiff påfs'd; inflam'd with ire,
His eye-balls fhot indignant fire;
He foam'd, he rag'd with thirst of blood,
Spurning the ground the monarch stood,
And roar'd aloud, Sufpend the fight;
In a whole skin go fleep to-night:
Or tell me, ere the battle rage,
What wrongs provoke thee to engage ?
Is it ambition fires thy breast,
Or avarice that ne'er can reft?
From thefe alone unjustly fprings
The world-deftroying wrath of kings.
The furly Maftiff 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 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;
Aloft the fprawling hero flies;
Manged he falls, he howls, and dies.
Who, by the partial work, hath fhown
He knows fo little of his own?
How falfely is the spaniel drawn
Did man from him first learn to fawn?
A dog proficient in the trade!
He the chief flatt'rer nature inade!
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's tricks, and lawyer's arts,
The fox might well improve his parts.
The lion, wolf, and tyger'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 fpeak,
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,
Or write the hiftory of Siam,
No man is better than I am:
§ 145. Fable X. The Elephant and the Bookfeller. Or, fince you're learn'd in Greek, let's fee
HE 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 description view Creatures which Adam never knew: For, when we risk no contradiction, It prompts the tongue to deal in fiction. Thofe things that Яartle 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 ikill 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 thofe, in days of yore, Rummag'd a shop 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 pourtray'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 spread, And thus remark'd on what he read : Man with strong reafon is endow'd; A beaft fcarce inftin&t is allow'd. 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 pow'r of other creatures,
Something against the Trinity.
When, wrinkling with a fheer 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 fenfeless 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.
§ 146. Fable XI. The Peacock, the Turkey, 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'n's o'er-arching fkies,
Are fpangl'd with a thousand eyes.
The circling rays, and varied light,
At once confound their dazzl'd fight:
On ev'ry tongue detraction burns,
And malice prompts their fpleen 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 Turkies have the whiter fkin.
From tongue to tongue they caught abufe; And next was heard the hifling Goose : G
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.
True. Thefe are faults, the Peacock cries;
My feream, my thanks you may despise;
But fuch blind critics 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 harther found,
Thofe faults in you had ne'er been found!
To all apparent beauties blind,
Each blemish ftrikes an envious mind.
Thus in Affemblies have I feen
A nymph of brightest charms and mien
Wake envy in each ugly face;
And buzzing fcandal fills the place.
Doris was rich enough, 'tis true;
Her lord must give her title too :
And ev'ry man, or rich or poor,
A fortune asks, and afks no more.
Av'rice, whatever fhape it bears,
Muft ftill be coupl'd with its cares.
§ 148. Fable XIII. The Tame Stag. AS a young Stag the thicket past,
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 chord,
He bore the prefent to his lord.
His lord was pleas'd; as was the clown,
When he was tipp'd with half a crown.
The Stag was brought before his wife;
The tender lady begg'd his life.
How fleek's the fkin! how speck'd like ermine!
$147. Fable XII. Cupid, Hymen, and Plutus. Sure never creature was fo charming!
S Cupid in Cythera's grove
Employ'd the leffer powers of love;
Some fhape the bow, or fit the string;
Some give the taper fhaft its wing,
Or turn the polish'd quiver's mould,
Or head the darts with temper'd gold.
Amidft their toil and various care,
Thus Hymen, with affuming air,
Addrefs'd the God: Thou purblind cit,
Of awkward and ill-judging wit,
If matches are not better made,
At once I muft forfwear my trade.
You fend me fuch ill-coupl'd folks,
That 'tis a fhame to fell them yokes;
They fquabble for a pin, a feather,
And wonder how they came together.
The husband's fullen, dogged, thy;
The wife grows flippant in reply;
He loves command and due restriction;
And the as well likes contradiction:
She never flavishly submits;
She'll have her will, or have her fits:
He this way tugs, fhe t'other draws;
The man grows jealous, and with caufe:
Nothing can fave him but divorce;
And here the wife complics of course.
When, fays the boy, had I to do
With either your affairs or you?
I never idly spent my darts;
You trade in mercenary hearts.
For fettlements the lawyer's fee'd;
Is my hand witness to the deed?
If they like cat and dog agree,
Go rail at Plutus, not at me.
Plutus appear'd, and faid, 'Tis true,
In marriage gold is all their view;
They feek no beauty, wit, or fenfe ;
And love is feldom the pretence.
All offer incenfe at my farine,
And I alone the bargain fign.
How ean Belinda blame her fate?
She only afk'd a great estate.
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 steals my little mafter's bread,
Follows the fervants to be fed.
Nearer and nearer now he stands,
To feel the praife of patting hands;
Examines every fift for meat,
And tho' 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 the 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 fhame.
The Monkey who had feet.
the World.
MONKEY, to reform the times,
Refolv'd to visit 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 faare 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 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;
Like Orpheus, burnt with public zeal,
To civilize the monkey weal:
So watch'd occafion, broke his chain,
And fought his native woods again.
The hairy fylvans round him prefs,
Aftonish'd at his ftrut and dress.
Some praise 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 defire
His flutt'ring fhoulder-knot admire.
Hear and improve, he pertly cries;
I come to make a nation wife.
Weigh your own worth, support your place,
The next in rank to human race.
In cities long I pass'd my days,
Convers'd with men, and learn'd their ways.
Their dress, their courtly manners fee;
Reform your state, and copy me.
Seek ye to thrive in flatt'ry deal;
Your fcorn, your hate, with that conceal.
Seem only to regard your friends;
But ufe them for your private ends.
Stint not to truth the flow of wit;
Be prompt to lye whene'er 'tis fit.
Bend all your force to spatter merit;
Scandal is converfation's fpirit.
Boldly to ev'ry thing attend,
And men your talents fhall commend.
I knew the great. Obferve me right;
So fhall you grow like man polite.
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He fpoke, and bow'd. With mutt'ring jaws
The wond'ring circle grinn'd applause.
Now, warm with malice, envy, fpite,
Their most obliging friends they bite;
And, fond to copy human ways,
Practife new mifchiefs all their days.
Thus the dull lad, too tall for school,
With travel finishes the fool;
Studious of ev'ry coxcomb's airs,
He drinks, games, dreffes, whores, and fwears;
O'erlooks with fcorn all virtuous arts;
For vice is fitted to his parts,
The thrushes chatter'd with affright,
And nightingales abhorr'd his fight;
All animals before him ran,
To fhun the hateful fight of man.
Whence is the dread of ev'ry creature?
Fly they our figure or our nature?
As thus he walk'd in mufing thought, His ear imperfect accents caught; With cautious ftep he nearer drew: By the thick fhade conceal'd from view, High on the branch a Pheasant stood; Around her all her lift'ning brood Proud of the bleflings of her neft, She thus a mother's care exprefi :
No dangers here fhall circumvent; Within the woods enjoy content. Sooser the hawk or vulture trust Than man, of animals the worst; In him ingratitude you find; A vice peculiar to their kind. The fheep, whofe annual fleece is dy'd To 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 fkill, His hives with wax and honey fill, In vain whole summer days employ'd, Their ftores are fold their race destroy'd. What tribute from the goofe is paid Does not her wing all fcience aid? Does it not lovers hearts explain, And drudge to raise the merchant's gain? What now rewards this gen'ral ufe? He takes the quills, and eats the goose. Man then avoid, deteft his ways; So fafety fhall prolong your days. When fervices are thus acquitted, Be fure we Pheasants must be spitted.
$151. Fable XVI. 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, confin'd her hair,
Or giv'n her knot a smarter air,
Now nearest to her heart was plac'd,
Now in her mantua's tail difgrac'd:
But could fhe partial fortune blame,
Who faw.her lover ferv'd the fame ?
At length, from all her honours caft,
Thro' various turns of life the pass'd;
Now glitter'd on a taylor's arm;
Now kept a beggar's infant warm;
Now, rang'd within a mifer's coat,
The Philofopher and the Contributes to his yearly groat;
Pheasants.
THE Sage, awak'd at early day,
Thro' the deep 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 sweet alternate notes.
But where he past he terror threw ;
The fong broke fhort, the warblers flew;
Now, rais'd again from low approach,
She vifits in the doctor's coach;
Here, there, by various fortune toft,
At laft in Grefham-hall was loft.
Charm'd with the wonders of the show,
On every fide, above, below,
She now of this or that inquires;
What least was understood admires.
'Tis plain, each thing fo ftruck her mind,
Her head's of virtuofo kind.
And what's this, and this, dear Sir? A needle, fays th'interpreter. She knew the name. And thus the fool Address'd her as a taylor's tool.
A needle with that filthy ftone, Quite idle, all with ruft o'ergrown! You better might employ your parts, And aid the fempftrefs in her arts. But tell me how the friendship grew Between that paltry flint and you?
Friend, fays the Needle, ceafe to blame; I follow real worth and fame.
Know'st thou the loadftone's pow'r and art,
That virtue virtues can impart;
Of all his talents I partake,
Who then can fuch a friend forfake?
'Tis I direct the pilot's hand
To fhun the rocks and treach'rous 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.
§ 152. Fable XVII. The Shepherd's Dog and For no one fent the fecond pay.
WOLF, with hunger fierce and bold,
Ravag'd the plains, and thinn'd the fold;
Deep in the wood fecure he lay;
The thefts of night regal'd the day.
In vain the thepherd's wakeful care
Had fpread the toils, and watch'd 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.
A truce, replies the Wolf. 'Tis done.
The Dog the parley thus begun :
How can that ftrong intrepid mind Attack a weak defenceless kind? Thofe jaws fhould prey on nobler food, And drink the boar's and lion's blood; Great fouls with gen'rous 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 bolom burn with real zeal, Hence, and thy tyrant lord befeech; To him repeat the moving fpeech: A Wolf cats fheep but now and then ; Ten thousands are devour'd by men. An open foe may prove a curfe; But a pretended friend is worfe
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