How is the modern taste decay'd!
Where's the respect to wisdom paid?
Our worth the Grecian sages knew:
They gave our sires the honour due;
They weigh'd the dignity of fowls,
And pry'd into the depth of owls.
Athens, the seat of learned fame,
With gen❜ral voice rever'd our name!
On merit title was conferr'd,
And all ador'd th' Athenian bird.
Brother, you reason well, replies
The solemn mate, with half-shut eyes!
Right-Athens was the seat of learn-
And, truly, wisdom is discerning.
Besides, on Pallas' helm we sit,
The type and ornament of wit:
But now, alas! we're quite neglected,
And a pert Sparrow's more respected.
A Sparrow, who was lodg'd beside,
Q'erhears them sooth each other's pride,
And thus he nimbly vents his heat:-
Who meets a fool, must find conceit.
I grant you were at Athens grac’d,
And on Minerva's helm were plac'd;
But ev'ry bird that wings the sky,
Except an owl, can tell you why.
From hence they taught their schools to
know
How false we judge by outward show;
That we should never looks esteem,
Since fools as wise as you might seem.
Would you contempt and scorn avoid,
Let your vain-glory be destroy'd;
Humble your arrogance of thought;
Pursue the way by nature taught:
So shall you find delicious fare,
And grateful farmers praise your care;
So shall sleek mice your chase reward,
And no keen cat find more regard.
The Courtier and Proteus.
WHENE'ER a Courtier's out of place,
The country shelters his disgrace;
Where doom'd to exercise and health,
His house and gardens own his wealth.
He builds new schemes, in hopes to gain
The plunder of another reign;
Like Philip's son, would fain be doing,
And sighs for other realms to ruin.
As one of these (without his wand)
Pensive along the winding strand
Employ'd the solitary hour
In projects to regain his pow'r,
The waves in spreading circles ran,
Proteus rose, and thus began:-
Came you from Court? For in your mien A self-important air is seen.
He frankly own'd his friends had trick'd him,
And now he fell his party's victim.
Know, says the God, by matchless skill I change to every shape at will; But yet, I'm told, at Court you see Those who presume to rival me.
Thus said. A snake, with hideous trail, Proteus extends his scaly mail.
Know, says the Man, tho' proud in place, All Courtiers are of reptile race. Like you, they take that dreadful form, Bask in the sun, and fly the storm; With malice hiss, with envy glote, And for convenience change their coat; With new-got lustre rear their head, Though on a dunghill born and bred. Sudden the God a lion stands; He shakes his mane, he spurns the sands: Now a fierce lynx, with fiery glare, A wolf, an ass, a fox, a bear.
Had I ne'er liv'd at Court, he cries, Such transformation might surprise; But there, in quest of daily game, Each able Courtier acts the same. Wolves, lions, lynxes, while in place, Their friends and fellows are their chace. They play the bear's and fox's part; Now rob by force, now steal with art. They sometimes in the senate bray; Or, chang'd again to beasts of prey, Down from the lion to the ape, Practise the frauds of ev'ry shape. So said. Upon the God he fliesIn cords the struggling captive ties.
Now, Proteus, now (to truth compell❜d)
Speak, and confess thy art excell❜d;
Use strength, surprise, or what you will,
The Courtier finds evasions still;
Not to be bound by any ties,
And never fore'd to leave his lies.
FABLE XXXIV.
The Mastiffs.
THOSE who in quarrels interpose,
Must often wipe a bloody nose.
A Mastiff, of true English blood,
Lov'd fighting better than his food.
When dogs were snarling for a bone,
He long'd to make the war his own;
And often found, when two contend,
To interpose obtain❜d his end.
He gloried in his limping pace;
The scars of honour seam'd his face;
In ev'ry limb a gash appears,
And frequent fights retrench'd his ears.
As, on a time, he heard from far
Two dogs engag'd in noisy war,
Away he scours, and lays about him,
Resolv'd no fray should be without him.
Forth from his yard a Tanner flies,
And to the bold intruder cries:-
A cudgel shall correct your manners! Whence sprung this cursed hate to Tan
While on my dog you vent your spite,
Sirrah! 'tis me you dare not bite.
To see the battle thus perplex'd,
With equal rage a butcher vex'd,
Hoarse-screaming from the circled crowd,
To the curs'd Mastiff cries aloud :-
Both Hockley-hole and Mary-bone
The combats of my dog have known.
He ne'er, like bullies coward-hearted,
Attacks in public to be parted.
Think not, rash fool, to share his fame;
Be his the honour or the shame.
Thus said, they swore, and rav'd like thunder,
Then dragg'd their fasten'd dogs asunder; While clubs and kicks from ev'ry side Rebounded from the Mastiff's hide.
All reeking now with sweat and blood, Awhile the parted warriors stood, Then pour'd upon the meddling foe, Who, worried, howl'd, and sprawl'd below. He rose, and limping from the fray, By both sides mangled, sneak'd away.
FABLE XXXV.
The Barley-Mow and the Dunghill.
HOW many saucy airs we meet From Temple-bar to Aldgate-street!
|