Like heroes of cternal name,

A dog proficient in the trade! Whom pocts fing, I fight for fame.

He the chief Batt'rer nature made! The buicher's fpirit-Stirring mind

Go, Man, the ways of couits difcern, To daily war my youth inclin'd;

You 'll find a spanicl fill might learn. He traind me to heroic deed;

How Can the Fox's theft and plunder Taught me to corquer, or to bleed.

Provoke lus centure or his ironder: Cuis'd Dog! the Bull replied; no more

From courtiers' tricks, and lawyers' arts, I wonder at thy thirst of gore ;

The fox might well improve his parts. For thou (bencath a butcher train'd,

The licn, wolf, and riger's brood, Whofc hands with cruelty are stain d,

He cuiles for their thit of blood : His daily murders in thy view)

But is not man to man a prey ? Muft, like thy tutor, blood pursue.

Beasts kill for hunger, men for pay, Take then thy fate. With goring wound, The Bookfeller, who heard him speak, At once he lifts him from the ground:

And saw him turn a page of Greek, Aloft the fprawling hero Alics;

Thcught, what a genius have I found ! Mangled he falls, he howls, and dies.

Then thus address'd with bow profound :

Learn'd Sir, if you 'd employ your per

Against the senfelets fons of men, s 130. FABLE X. The Elephant and the Bookseller. Or write the history of Siam,

No man is better pay than I am ; TIe man who with undaunted toils

Or, fince you 're learnid in Greck, jer 's ice Sails unknown feas to unknown foils, With various wonders feasts his fight :

Soinething against the Trinity.

Wben, wrinkling with a ineer his trunk,
What stranger wonders dees he write!

Friend, quoth the Elephant, you 're drunk ;
We read, and in description view
Creatures which Adam never knew :

E'en keup your money, and be wise :

Leuve man on man to criticise : For, when we risk no contradiction,

For that you ne'er can want a pen It prompts the tongue to deal in fiétion.

Among the fenfclefs fins of men, Thole things that startle me or you,

They unprovok'd will court the fray: 1 grant are strange, yet may be true.

Envy 's a sharper fpur than pay.
Who doubts that Elephants are found

No author ever spar'd a brother;
For fcience and for fenfe renown'd?
Borri records their strength of parts,

Wits are game-cocks to cne another,
Extent of ihought, and skill in arts;
How they perform the law's decrees,

§ 131. FABLE XI. The Peacock, the Turkey, and And save the 'ftate the hangman's fous: And how by travel understand

INtcauty faul's

conspicuous grow; The language of another land.

The imallest speck is seen on fuow, Let those who qucttion this report,

As near a barn, by hunger led, To Pliny's ancient page reforr:

A Peacock with the poultry fud; How learn'd was that fagacious breed !

All view'd hin with an envious eve, Who now like them the Greek can read i And mock'd his gaudy pageantry. As one of these, in days of yore,

He, conscious of fupcrior merit, Rummag'd a shop of learning o'er;

Contemns their bale reviling fpirit ;
Not, like our modern dealers, minding

His ftate and dignity allumes,
Only the margin's breadth and binding; And to the sun displays his plumes;
A book his curious eye detains,

Which, like the heavens' o'er-arching skies, Where with exactest care and pains

Are fpangled with a thousand cycs. Were cv'ry beast and bird portray'd,

The ciicling rays, and varice light, That e'er the search of man survey'd.

At once confound their dazzled figlit: Their natures and their pow'rs were writ On ev'ry tonguc detraction burns, With all the pride of human wit.

And malice prompts their spleen by turns. The page he with attention spread,

Mark with what intolence and pride And thus remarkd on what he read :

The creature takes his haughty ftride, Man with Atrong reason is endow'd;

The Tuihey cries. Can fplecn contain: A beant foarce inftinct is allow'd.

Sure never bird was half so vain ! But let this author's work be tried ;

But, were intrinsic merit seen, 'Tis plain that neither was his guide.

We Turkeus have the whiter kin. Can he discern the different natures,

Froin tongue to tongue they caught abuse; And weigh the pow'r of other creatures, And next was heard the hitting Gcose: Who by the partial work hath shown

What hidcous legs! what filthy claws ! He knows so little of his own?

i fcorn to censure little laws. How falsely is the spaniel drawn!

Then what a heriid fqualling throat ! Did man from him nirft learn to favn? Ev'n owls are frighted at the 10tc.

the Goose.

A

1

True-those are faults, the Peacock cries; Av'rice, whatever shape it bears,
My scream, my faanks, you may despise: Must still be coupled with its cares.
But such blind critics rail in vain :
What! overlook my radiant train !

§ 133. PABLE XIII. The Tame Stag,
Know, did my legs (your scorn and sport)
The Turkev or the Goose support,

As a young Stag the thicket pafs'd,

The branches held his antlers falt; And did ye scream with harsher sound,

A clown, who saw the captive hung, Those faults in you had ne'er been found !

Across the horns his halter flung. To all apparent beautics blind,

Now safely hamper'd in the cord, Each blemish strikes an envious mind,

He bore the present to his lord, Thus in assemblies have I seen

His lord was pleas'd; as was the clown, A nymph of brightest charms and micą

When he was tipp'd with half-a-crown. Wake envy' in each ugly face ;

The Stag was brought before his wife;
And buzzing scandal fills the place,

The tender lady beggd his life.
How fleck 's the skin! how fpeck'd like erinines

Sure never creature was to charming!
$132. FADLE XII. Cupid, Hymen, and Plutus. At first, within the yard confin’d,
s Cupid in Cythera's grove

He fries, and hides from all mankind; Employ'd the leffor pow'rs of love;

Now, bolder grown, with fix'd amaze, Some shape the bow, or fit the string;

And diftant awe, presumes to gaze: Some give the taper shaft its wing,

Munches the linen on the lines, Or turn the polish'd quiver's moule,

And on a hood or apron dines; Or head the darts with temper'd gold,

He steals my little master's bread, Amidst their toil and various Carc,

Follows the firvants to be fed : Thus Hymen, with affuming air,

Nearer and nearer now he stands, Address'd the God: Thou purblįnd chit,

To feel the praise of parting hands; Of awkward and ill-judging ivit,

Examines every fift for mcat, If matches are not better made,

And, though repuls’d, disdains retrcat; At once I must forswear my trade.

Attacks again with levell’d horns; You send me such ill-coupled folks,

And man, that was his terror, scorns. That 'tis a shame to sell them yokes ;

Such is the country maiden's fright, They squabble for a pin, a feather,

When first a red-coat is in light; And wonder how they came together.

Behind the door the hides her face ; The husband 's sullen, dogged, thy ;

Next time at distance eyes the lace ; The wife grows flippant in reply ;

She now can all his terrors stand, He loves command and due reítri&tion,

Nor from his squecze withdraws hier hand, And she as well likes contradiction :

She plays familiar in his arms, She never slavilhly submits;

And ev'ry soldier hath his charins. She 'll have her will, or have her fits:

From tent to tent the spreads her flame;
He this way tugs, the t' other draws;

For custom conquers fear and shame.
The man grows jealous, and with cause :
Nothing can save him but divorce;

$ 134. PABLE xiv. The Monkey wbo kad seen

the World. And here the wife complies of course. When, fays the boy, had I to do

A

MONKEY, to reform the times, With either your affairs or you?

Resolv'd 10 visit foreign climes : I never idly spent my darts;

For men in distant regions roam You trade in mercenary

To bring politer manners home. For settlements the lawyer's feed;

So forth he fares, all toil defies; Is my hand witness to the deed ?

Misfortune ferves to make us wise. If they like cat and dog agree,

At length the treach'rous snare was laid; Go rail at Plutus, not at me.

Poor Pug was caught, to town convey'd, Plutus appear'd, and said ---'Tis true,

There sold. How envied was his doom, In marriage gold is all their view;

Made captive in a lady's room! They seek no beauty, wit, or sense;

Proud as a lover of his chains, And love is seldom the pretence.

He day by day her favour gains. All offer incense at my Thrine,

Whene'er the dury of the day And I alone the bargain tign.

The toilet calls, with mimic play How can Belinda blame her fate?

He twirls her knots, he cracks her fan, She only ask'd a great estate.

Like any other gentleman. Doris was rich enough, 'tis true;

In visits too his parts and wit, Her lord must give her title too :

When jests grew dull, were sure to hit. And ev'ry man, or rich or poor,

Proud with applause, he thought his mind A fortune asks, and asks no more,

In ev'ry courtly art refin'd;

Like

a

hearts.

Like Orpheus burnt with public zeal,

As thus he waik'd in musing thought, To civilize the monkey weal :

His car imperfcét accents caught; So watch'd occasion, broke his chain,

With cautious step he nearer drew: And sought his native woods again.

By the thick shade conceal'd from view, The hairy sylvans round him press,

High on the branch a Pheasant food; Aftonith'd at his strut and drets.

Around her all her lift'ning brood; Soine praise his sleeve ; and others glote Proud of the bletings of her nest, Upon his rich embroider'd coat;

She thus a inother's care express'd: His dapper periwig comn:ending,

Vo dangers here thall circumvent ; With the black tail behind depending :

Within the woods enjoy content. His powder'd back, above, below,

Sooner the hai: k or vulture trust Like hoary frost, or tieccy snow;

Than man, of animals the worst; But all with envy and defire

In him ingratitude you find; His flutt'ring thoulder-knot admire.

A vice peculiar to the kind. Hear and improve, he pertly cries;

The iheep, whose annual fleece is dyed I come to make a nation wife.'

To guard his health, and serve his pride, Weigh your own worth, support your place Forc'd from his fold and native plain, The next in rank to human race.

Is in the cruel ihambles slain. In cities long I pass'd my days,

The fwarms who, with industrious fkill, Convers’d with men, and Icarn’d their ways. His hives with wax and honcy fill, Their dress, their courtly manners sce; In vain whole summer days employ'd, Reform your state, and copy me.

Their stores are fold, their race destroy d. Scek ye to thrive? in flatt'ry deal;

What tribute from the goose is paid ! Your scorn, your hate, with that conccal. Does not her wing all science aid: Seem only to regard your friends,

Does it not lovers' hearts explain, But use them for your private ends.

And drudge to raise the merchant's gain? Stint not to truth the flow of wit;

What now rewards this gen’ral use? Be prompt to lie whenc'er 'tis fit.

He takes the quills, and eats the goose. Bend all your force to sparter merit;

Man then avoid, deteft his ways; Scandal is conversation's fpirit.

So fafety thall prolong your days. Boldly to ev'ry thing attend,

When fervices are rius acquitted,
And men your talents fhall commend.

Be sure wc Pheafants must be fpitted.
I knew the great. Obferve me right;
So fhall you grow like man polite.

He spoke, and bow’d. With mutt'ring jaws § 136. FABLE XVI, The Pin and tbc Needk.
The wond'ring circle grinn'd applause.
Now, warm with malice, enty, fpice,

A PIN, who long had serv'd a beauty,

Proficient in the toilet's duty,
Their most obliging friends they bite;
And, fond to

Had found hier ficere, conlind her bair, . human

copy. way's, Practise new mischiefs all their days,

Or given her knot a Imarter air, Thus the dull lad, too tall for school,

Now nearest to her heart w7s plac'd, With travel finithes the fcol;

Now in her mantua's tail disgrac'd : Studious of ev'ry coxcomb's airs,

But could the partial fortune blame,

Who faw her lover ferr'd the same?
He drinks, games, dresses, whures, and swcars ;
O'crlooks with scorn all virtuous arts;

At length, from all her honours cast,

Through various turns of life the país d; For vice is fitted to his parts.

Now glitter'd on a taylor's arm ;

Now kept a beggar's infant warm ;
The Philosopher and the Now, rang’d within a miier's coat,
Pbenfants.

Contributes to his yсaily groat:
THE Sage, awak'd at early day,

Now rais'd again from low approach, Thro' the decp forest inok his way; She visits in the doctor's coach; Drawn by the inusic of the groves,

Here, there, by various fortune cost, Along the winding gloom he roves :

At last in Grchhain-hall was loft. From tree to tree the warbling throats

Charm'd with the wonders of the show,
Prolong the sweet alternate notes.

On ev'ry side, above, below,
But where he pass'd he terror threw ; She now of this or that enquires;
The song broke short, the warblers few; What least was understood admires.
The thrushes chatter'd with affright,

'Tis plain, cach thing so ftruck her mind, And nightingales abhorr'd his figlit;

Her head's of virtuoso kind. All animals before him ran,

And pray what's this, and this, dear Sir? To thun the hateful fight of man.

A necdle, says th' interpreter.
Whence is this dread of ev'ry crcarure i She knew the name: and thus the fool
Fly they our figure, or our naturt ?

Addreis d her as a taylor's tool:

A peydle

§ 135.

FABLE XV.

A needle with that filthy stone,

Who with his tongue hath armies routed, Quite idle, all with ruft o'ergrown!

Makes er'n his real courage doubted : You better might employ your parts,

But flatt’ry never seems absurd, And aid the fempfireis in her arts.

The fiatter'd always take your word: Eut tell me how the friendship grew

Impoflibilities seem just;
Between that paltry fiint and you.

They take the strongest praise on truft.
Friend, says the Necdle, ceaic to blame; Hyperboles, tho' ne'er so great,
I follow real worth and tamc.

Will Itill come short of self-conceit.
Know'lt thou the loadtione's pow'r and art, So very like a painter drew,
That virtue virtues can impart?

That ev'ry cye the picture knew ;
Of all his talcots I partake;

He hit complexion, feature, air, How can I such a friend fo fake!

So just, the life ittelf was there. 'Tis I direct the pilot's hand

No flatt'ry with his colours laid,
To thun the rocks and treach'rous sand; To bloom restor'd the faded maid ;
By me the distant world is known,

He gave

cach muscle all its strength; And either India is our own.

The mouth, the chin, the nose's length, Had I with millirers been bred,

His honest pencil touch'd with truth, What had I been the guide of thread, And mark'd the date of age and youth. And drudg'd as vulgar needles do,

He lost his friends, his practice fail'd;
Oi no more confequence than you.

Truth should not always be reveald;
In dusty piles his pictures lay,

For no one lent the second pay. | 137. FAELE XVII. The Stepherd's Dog and

Two bustos, fraught with ev'ry grace,
the Wolf.

A Venus' and Apollo's face,
A WOLF; with hunger fierce and bold, He plac'd in view ; refolv'd to please

Ravag'd the plains, and thinn'd the fold; Whoever fat, he drew from these;
Deep in the wood secure he lay ;

Froni these corrected ev'ry feature, The thefts of night regal'd the day.

And spirited each awkward creature.
In vain the shepherd's wakeful care

All things were set; the hour was come,
Had spread the toils, and watch'd the snare ; His pallet ready o'er his thumb,
In sain the Dog pursued his pace;

My Lord appear'd; and, fcated right
The ficerer rubber mock'd the chace.

In proper attitude and light,
As Lightfoot rang'd the forest round, The painter look'd, he sketch'd the piece,
By chance his foe's retreat he found.

Then dipp'd his pencil, talk'd of Greece,
A truce, replies the Wolf. 'Tis done. of Titian's tints, of Guido's air ;
The Dog the parley thus begun :

Those cyes, my Lord, the spirit there
How can that strong intrepid mind

Might well a Raphael's hand require,
Attack a weak defenceless kind ?

To give them all the native fire;
Those jaws Bhould prey on nobler food, The features fraught with sense and wie,
And drink the boar's and lion's biood;

You'll grant, are very hard to hit;
Great souls with gen'rous pity melt,

But yet with patience you shall view Which coward tyrants never felt.

As much as paint and art can do. How harmless is our ficecy care !

Observe the work. My Lord replied, Be brave, and let thy mercy spare.

Till now I thought my mouth was wide;

I Friend, says the Wolf, the inatter weigh;

my

note is somewhat long; Nature design'd us beasts of prey;

Dear Sir, for me 'tis far too young. As such, when hunger finds a treat,

Oh pardon me! the artist cried, 'Tis necessary Wolves should eat.

In this the painters must decide. If, mindful of the blearing weal.

The piece even common eyes must strikes Thy bosom burn with real zeai,

I warrant is extremely like. Hence, and thy tyrant lord besecch;

My Lord examin'd it anew; To him repeat the moving speech :

No looking-glass feem'd half to true. A Wolf eats theep but now and then ;

A Lady came; with borrow'd grace Ten thousands are devour'd by men.

He froin his Venus form'd her face. An open foe may prove a curse;

Her lover prais'd the Painter's art; But a pretended friend is worse.

So like the picture in his heart !

To ev'ry age fome charm he lent; ( 138. FABLE XVIII. The Painter who pleafed Ev'n beauties were almost content.

Thro' all the town his art they prais'd;
nobody and every body.

His custom grew, his price was rais'd.
LE
EST men fufpect your tale untrue,

Had he the real likeness fhcwn,
Keep probability in view.

Would any man the picture own? The travller leaping o'er those bounds, But when thus happily he wrought, "The credit of bis book confounds.

Each found the likeness in his thought.

a

Besides,

$ 139.

$ 139. FABŁE XIX. The Lion and the Cub. He thank'd her care; yet day by day

His bosom burn’d to disobey;
HOW fond are men of rule and place,
Who court it from the mean and base!

And ev'ry time the well he faw,
These cannot beur an equal nigh,

Scorn'd in his heart the foolish law : But from superior merit Ay.

Near and more ncar cach day he drew, They love the cellar's vulgar joke,

And long'd to try the dang’rous view. And lose their hours in alc and fioke,

Why was this idle charge ? he cries; There o'er fome petty club preside;

Let courage female fears despise. So poor, fo paltry is their pride!

Or did the doubt my heart was brare, Nay, ev'n with fools whole nights will fit,

And therefore this injunction gave ? In hopes to be supreme in wit.

Or does her harvest tore the place, If these can read, to there I write,

treasure for her younger race ? To set their worth in truest light,

And would the thus my search prevent ? A Lion-cub, of fordid mind,

I stand resolvid, and dare th'event. Avoided all the lion kind;

Thus said, he mounts the margin's round, Fond of applause he fought the feasts

And prics into the depth profound. Of vulgar and ignoble beafts;

He stretch'd his neck; and from below With asses all his time he spent ;

With stretching neck advanc'd a foe : Their club's perpetual president.

With wrath his ruffled plumes he rears,

The foe with ruffled plumes appears :
He caught their manncrs, looks, and airs;
An ass in ev'ry thing but ears!

Threat answer'd threat ; his fury grew;
If e'er his highness meant a joke,

Headlong to meet the war he flew; They grinn'd applause before he spoke;

But when the wat'ry death he found, But at each word what shouts of praise !

He thus lamented as he drown'd: Good gods! how natural he brays !

I nc'er had been in this condition,
Elate with fatt'ry and conceit,

But for my mother's prohibition.
He seeks his royal sirc's retrcat ;
Forward, and fond to thew his parts,

§ 141. FABLE XXI. The Rat-Catcher and Cruise His highness brays; the Lion starts :

THE rats by night fuch mischief did, Puppy! that curs'd vociferation

Bcity was cv'ry morning chid: Betrays thy life and conversation :

They undermin'd whole fidcs of bacon; Coxcombs, an ever-noisy race,

Her chuete was fapp'd, her tarts were taken; Are trumpets of their own disgracc.

Hur parties, fenc'd with thickoft patte, Why so severe ? the Cub replies;

Werc all demolith'd and laid waite. Our fenate always held me wise.

She curs'd the Cat for want of duty, How weak is pride ! returns the fire ;

Who left her focs a constant booty. All fools are vain when fools admire !

An Engineer of noted skill But know, what stupid aflos prize,

Engag'd to stop the growing ill.
Lions and noble beasts despise.

From room to room he now surveys
Their haunts, their works, their fecrct ways;

Finds where they 'Icape an ambulcade, $ 140. FAELE XX. The Old Hen and the Cock. And whence the rightly falls is made. RESTRAIN your child ; you'll soon believe,

An envious Cat from place to place,
The text which says, “We sprung from Eve.' Unscei, attends his fiunt pace.
As an old Hen led forth her train,

She faw that, if his trade went on,
And seem'd to peck to show the grain; The purring race must be undone ;
She rak'd the chaff, the scratch'd the ground, So fecrctly icinoves his buits,
And glean'd the spacious yard around. And ev'ry stratagem defeats.
A giddy chick, to try her wings,

Again he fets the poiloa d toris,
On the well's narrow margin springs,

And Puts again the labour foils.
And prone the drops. The mother's breast • What tue (tü frufrete my designs)
All day with sorrow was posseft.

“ My schemes thus nightly countermunes :" A Cock The mct; her son the knew,

Incens'd, hic cries : “tiis very liour And in her heart affcction gre v.

“ The wrctch shall blecd beneath my pow'r."" My son, says the, I grant your years

So faid-a pond'rous trap he brought, Have reach'd beyond a mother's cares.

And in the fact poer Puis vias caught. I see you vig’rous, strong, and boid;

" Smuggler," says he, “ thou fhalt be made I hear with joy your triumphs told.

“ A vicini to our loss of trade." 'Tis not from Cocks thy fate I dread;

The captive Cat, wirin pitcous mews, But let thy ever-wary tread

For pardon, life, and freedorn fues. Avoid yon well; the fatal place

A riter of the science fpare; Is sure perdition to our race.

Onc intrest is our conmon care. Print this my counsel on thy brcalt;

- Whiat infolence !" the man replied ; To the juist gods I leave the rest.

"Shall Cats with us the game diside?

“ W'era