And, copying the Socratic rule, Set up for master of a school. Dogmatic jargon learnt by heart, Trite fentences, hard terms of art, To vulgar ears feem'd fo profound, They fancy'd learning in the found. The school had fame: the crouded place With pupils fwarm'd of ev'ry race. With these the Swan's maternal care Had sent her scarce-fledg'd cygnet heir: The Hen (though fond and loth to part) Here lodg'd the darling of her heart: The Spider, of mechanic kind, Afpir'd to science more refin'd: The Afs learnt metaphors and tropes, But most on mufic fix'd his hopes. The The pupils now, advanc'd in age, Were call'd to tread life's bufy ftage; And to the mafter 'twas fubmitted, That each might to his part be fitted. The Swan, fays he, in arms fhall fhine: The foldier's glorious toil be thine. The Cock shall mighty wealth attain: Go, feek it on the stormy main. The court shall be the Spider's fphere; Pow'r, fortune fhall reward him there. In mufic's art the Afs's fame Shall emulate Corelli's name. Each took the part that he advis'd, And all were equally defpis'd. A Farmer, at his folly mov'd, The dull preceptor thus reprov'd. K 4 Block Blockhead, fays he, by what you've done, One would have thought 'em each your fon; For parents, to their offspring blind, Confult nor parts nor turn of mind; But ev'n in infancy decree What this, what t'other fon fhall be. Had you with judgment weigh'd the cafe, Their genius thus had fix'd their place: The Swan had learnt the failor's art; The Cock had play'd the foldier's part; The Spider in the weaver's trade With credit had a fortune made; But for the fole, in ev'ry clafs The blockhead had appear'd an Afs." FABLE |