What means yon peasant's daily toil, From choking weeds to rid the soil? Why wake you to the morning's care? Why with new arts correct the year? Why glows the peach with crimson hue? And why the plum's inviting blue? Were they to feast his taste design'd, That vermin of voracious kind? Crush then the slow, the pilf'ring race, So purge thy garden from disgrace. What arrogance! the SNAIL reply'd; In base, in sordid guise array'd. You dragg'd a slow and noisome train; Shall prove of CATERPILLAR breed. THE SCOLD AND THE PARROT. THE husband thus reprov'd his wife : - Who deals in slander lives in strife. Heigh-day! the flippant tongue replies, How solemn is the fool! how wise! Is nature's choicest gift debarr'd? Nay, frown not; for I will be heard. Women of late are finely ridden, Now reputations flew in pieces, Of mothers, daughters, aunts, and nieces. At once the torrent of her words Alarm'd cat, monkey, dogs, and birds. All join their forces to confound her; Puss spits, the MONKEY chatters round her, The yelping CUR her heels assaults, The MAGPIE blabs out all her faults; POLL, in the uproar, from his cage, • With this rebuke out-scream'd hér rage: A PARROT is for talking priz'd, But prattling women are despis'd; She who attacks another's honour, Draws ev'ry living thing upon her. Think, madam, when you stretch your lungs, That all your neighbours, too, have tongues; One slander must ten thousand get The world with int'rest pays the debt. "Taylor sculpt THE CUR AND THE MASTIFF. A SNEAKING CUR, the master's spy, Rewarded for his daily lie, With secret jealousies and fears The HOUND was beat, the MASTIFF chid, A plan to rob the house was laid. He stretch'd his hand to proffer more; Swift ran the cUR; with indignation, The DOG his humble suit preferr'd, Judge not unheard, the MASTIFF cry'd, But weigh the cause of either side. Think not that treach'ry can be just, Take not informers' words on trust ; They ope' their hand to ev'ry pay, And you and me by turns betray. He spoke. And all the truth appear'd. The CUR was hang'd, the MASTIFF clear'd. |