Crowd the vast court. With hollow tone,
A voice thus thunder'd from the throne:
"This night our minifter we name,
Let every fervant fpeak his claim;
Merit fhall bear this ebon wand "

All, at the word, ftretch'd forth their hand.

Fever, with burning heat poffeft,

Advanc'd, and for the wand addreft.

"I to the weekly bills appeal,
Let those express my fervent zeal;
On every flight occafion near,
With violence I perfevere."

Next Gout appears with limping pace,
Pleads how he shifts from place to place;
From head to foot how fwift he flies,
And every joint and finew plies;
Still working when he feems fuppreft,
A moft tenacious ftubborn gueft.

A haggard spectre from the crew
Crawls forth, and thus afferts his due:
'Tis I who taint the fweeteft joy,
And in the fhape of Love destroy:
My thanks, funk eyes, and nofelefs face,
Prove my pretention to the place."
Stone urg'd his ever-growing force;
And, next, Confumption's meagre corfe,
With feeble voice that fcarce was heard,
Broke with short coughs, his fuit preferr'd:
"Let none object my lingering way,
I gain, like Fabius, by delay;
Fatigue and weaken every foe

By long attack, fecure, though flow."

Plague reprefents his rapid power,

Who thinn'd a nation in an hour.

All spoke their claim, and hop'd the wand.

Now expectation hush'd the band;
When thus the Monarch from the throne:

"Merit was ever modest known.
What, no Phyfician (peak his right!
None here! but fees their toils requite.
Let then Intemperance take the wand,
Who fills with gold their zealous hand.
You, Fever, Gout, and all the reft,
(Whom wary men, as foes, deteft)
Forego your claim; no more pretend;
Intemperance is etteem'd a friend;

He shares their mirth, their focial joys,
And as a courted guest destroys.
The charge on him must justly fall,
Who finds employment for you all."

5 Where'er he went, the grunting friend Ne'er fail'd his pleasure to attend.

10

As on a time the loving pair
Walk'd forth to tend the garden's care,
The Master thus addrefs'd the Swine:
"My house, my garden, all is thine.
On turnips feast whene'er you please,
And riot in my beans and pease;
If the potatoe's taste delights,
Or the red carrot's fweet invites,

15 Indulge thy morn and evening hours;
But let due care regard my flowers:
My tulips are my garden's pride:
What vaft expence thofe beds fupply'd !"

The Hog by chance one morning roam'd,
20 Where with new ale the veffels foam'd:
He munches now the steaming grains,
Now with full fwill the liquor drains.
Intoxicating fumes arife;

He reels, he rolls his winking eyes;

25 Then staggering through the garden fcours,
And treads down painted ranks of flowers.
With delving fnout he turns the foil,
And cools his palate with the spoil.

The Mafter came, the ruin fpy'd;

30 Villain! fufpend thy rage, he cry'd.
Haft thou, thou most ungrateful sot,
My charge, my only charge, forgot?
What, all my flowers!" No more he faid,
But gaz'd, and figh'd, and hung his head,
The Hog with ftuttering fpeech returns :
"Explain, Sir, why your anger burns.
See there, untouch'd, your tulips strown,
For I devour'd the roots alone."

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FABLE XLIX.

THE MAN AND THE FLEA.

WHETHER on earth, in air, or main,
Sure every thing alive is vain!
Does not the Hawk all fowls furvey,
As deftin'd only for his prey?
And do not tyrants, prouder things,
Think men were born for flaves to kings?
When the Crab ws the pearly strands
Tagus, bright with golden fands,
Or crawls befide coral grove,
And hears the ocean roll above,
"Nature is too profufe, fays he,
Who gave all these to pleasure mo

When bordering pinks and rofes blaam, And every garden breathes perfume; When peaches glow with funny dyes. Likę Laura's choyks, when blushes rife ;

When with huge figs the branches bend,
When clusters from the vine depend ;
The Snail looks round on flower and tree,
And cries, "All these were made for me!"
"What dignity's in human nature !"
Says Man, the most conceited creature,
As from a cliff he caft his eye,
And view'd the fea and arched fky.
The fun was funk beneath the main;
The moon and all the starry train

Hung the vait vault of Heaven. The Man
His contemplation thus began:

"When I behold this glorious show,
And the wide watery world below,
The fealy people of the main,

The beafts that range the wood or plain,
The wing'd inhabitants of air,

The day, the night, the various year;
And know all these by Heaven defign'd
As gifts to pleasure human-kind;
I cannot raife my worth too high;
Of what vaft confequence am i l

"Not of th' importance you fuppofe,
Replies a Flea upon his nofe.
Le humble, learn thyfelf to fcan;:
Know, pride was never made for man.
Tis vanity that fwells thy mind.
What! heaven and earth for thee defign'd!
For thee, made only for our need,
That more important Fleas might feed."

FABLE L.

THE HARE AND MANY FRIENDS.

FRIENDSHIP, like love, is but a name,
Unless to one you stint the flame.
The child, whom many fathers share,
Hath feldom known a father's care.
'Tis thus in friendships; who depend
On many, rarely find a friend,

A Hare who, in a civil way.
Comply'd with every thing, like Gay,
Was known by all the beftial train
Who haunt the wood, or graze the plain;
Her care was never to offend;

And every creature was her friend.

As forth the went at early dawn,

20

Be comforted, relief is neat;
For all your friends are in the rear."
She next the stately Bull implor'd ;
And thus reply'd the mighty lord:
"Since every beaft alive can tell
That I fincerely wish you well,

I may, without offence, pretend
To take the freedom of a friend.

25 Love calls me hence; a favourite Cow
Expects me near yon' barley-mow;
And, when a lady's in the cafe,
You know, all other things give place.
To leave you thus might feem unkind;
30 But fee, the Goat is juft behind."

35

The Goat remark'd her pulfe was high,
Her languid head, her heavy eye:
My back, fays he, may do you harm;
The Sheep's at hand, and wool is warm."

The sheep was feeble, and complain'd
"His fides a load of wool fuftain'd;
Said, he was flow, confefs'd his fears;
For hounds eat fheep as well as hares."
She now the trotting Caif address'd,
40 To fave from death a friend diftrefs'd.
"Shall I, fays he, of tender age,
In this important care engage?
Older and abler pass'd you by ;
How strong are thofe! how weak am I!
45 Should I prefume to bear you hence,

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15

20

Thofe friends of mine may take offence.
Excufe me, then; you know my heart;
But dearest friends, alas! muft part.
How fhall we all lament! Adieu;
For fee the hounds are just in view."

END OF THE FIRST PART.

-ADVERTISEMENT.

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65

60

Thefe Fables were finished by Mr. GAY, and in tended for the prefs a fhort time before his deaths when they were left, with his other papers, to the care of his noble friend and patron the Duke of Queenfberry. His Grace has accordingly per mitted them to the prefs; and they are here printed from the originals in the Author's cin hand-writing. We hope they will please equally with his former Fables, though motiy on fubje of a graver and more political turn. They will certainly her him to have been (what he eftermed the beft character) a man of a truly honeft hearts and a fincere lover of his country.

When you perufe the cleareft cafe,
You fee it with a double face:
For fcepticifm's your profeffion;
You hold there's doubt in all expreffion.
Hence is the bar with fees fupply'd ;
Hence eloquence takes either fide.

Your hand would have but paltry gleaning,
Could every man exprefs his meaning,
Who dares prefume to pen a deed,
Unless you previously are fee'd?

'Tis drawn; and, to augment the coft,
In dull prolixity engroit.

And now we 're well fecur'd by law,
Till the next brother find a flaw.

Read o'er a will. Was 't ever known
But you could make the will you own?
For, when you read, 'tis with intent
To find out meanings never meant.”.
Since things are thus, fe defendendo,
I bar fallacious inuendo.

t

Sagacious Porta's skill could trace Some beaft or bird in every face. The head, the eye, the nofe's shape, Prov'd this an owl, and that an ape. When, in the sketches thus defign'd, Refemblance brings fome friend to mind, You fhow the piece, and give the hint, And find each feature in the print; So monftrous-like the portrait's found, All know it, and the laugh goes round, Like him I draw from general nature; Is 't I or you then fix the fatire?

So, Sir, I beg you, fpare your pains,
In making comments on my trains.
All private flander I deteft,

I judge not of my neighbour's breaft:
Party and prejudice I hate,
And write no libcls on the state.

Shall not my Fable cenfure vice,
Because a knave is over-nice?
And, left the guilty hear and dread,
Shall not the decalogue be read?
If I lafh vice ia general fiction,
Is 't I apply, or felf-conviction?

Dame Dobbins with her poultry-ware."

Reynard grew huff. Says he, "This fneer From you I little thought to hear :

25 Your meaning in your looks I fee.

85

Pray, what 's Dame Dobbins, friend, to me? 90
Did I e'er make her poultry thinner!

Prove that I owe the Dame a dinner." "Friend, quoth the Cur, I meant no harm; 30 Then why fo captious? why fo warm? My words in common acceptation, Could never give this provocation. No lamb (for aught I ever knew) May be more innocent than you.”

35 At this, gall'd Reynard winc'd, and swore Such language ne'er was given before.

95

100

"What 's lamb to me? this faucy hint Shows me, bafe Knave, which way you fquint. If t' other night your mafter loft

40 Three lambs, am I to pay the cost?

Your vile reflections would imply

105

That I'm the thief. You Dog, you lie."
"Thou knave, thou fool! (the Dog reply'd)
The name is juft, take either fide;

45 Thy guilt thefe applications speak:
Sirrah, 'tis confcience make you squeak."

So faying, on the Fox he flies.
The felf-convicted felon dies.

50

Who claims the table, knows his right.
A fhephherd's Dog unfkill'd in sports,
Pick'd up acquaintance of all forts;
Among the reft a Fox he knew ;
By frequent chat their friendship grew.
Says Reynard, "Tis a cruel cafe,
That man holud ftigmatize our race.
No doubt, among us rogues you find,
As among dogs and human kind;
And yet (unknown to me and you)
There may be honeft men and true.
Thus flander tries whate'er it can
To put us on the foot with man.
Let my own actions recommend;
No prejudice can blind a friend :

Vol. VII.

60

THE VULTURE, THE SPARROW, AND OTHER

E

BIRDS,

To a Friend in the Country.

REI begin, I muft premife,
Our minifters are good and wife;
So, though malicious tongues apply,
Pray what care they, or what care I?

If I am free with courts, be 't known, 65 I ne'er prefume to mean our own.

If general morals feem to joke

On minifters, and fuch-like folk,
A captious fool may take offence :
What then? He knows his own pretence,

70 I meddle with no ftate-affairs,

But fpare my jeft to fave my ears.
3 M

3

10

Thus oft the cheated crowd adore
The thriving knaves that keep them poor,
The cringing train of power furvey:
What creatures are fo low as they!
With what obfequioufnefs they bend!
To what vile actions condefcend!
Their rife is on their meanness built,
And flattery is their fmallest guilt.
What homage, reverence, adoration,
In every age, in every nation,
Have fycophants to power addrefs'd!
No matter who the power poffefs'd!
Let minitters be what they will,
You find their levees always fill:
Ev'n thofe who have perplex'd a state,
Whofe actions claim contempt and hate,
Had wretches to applaud their schemes,
Though more abfurd than madmen's dreams.
When barbarous Moloch was invok'd,
The blood of infants only smok'd!

Pug must refund his heards of fruit; And though then minifter in chief, Was branded as a public thief.

105

The general idol of mankind;

Difgrac'd, defpis'd, confin'd to chains, He nothing but his pride retains.

There worship'd under every fhape:

Alike the lion, fox, and ape,

Are follow'd by time-ferving flaves
Rich prostitutes and needy knaves.

Who then fhall glory in his poft?
How frail his pride, how vain his boaft!
The followers of his profperous hour
Are as unftable as his power.
Power, by the breath of Flattery nurft,
The more it fwells is nearer burft;
The bubble breaks, the gewgaw ends,
And in a dirty tear defcends.

Once on a time an ancient maid,

Dogs, parrots, apes, her hours employ'd; With thefe alone the talk'd and toy'd.

60

A huge Baboon her fancy took
(Aloft a man in fize and look),
He finger'd every thing he found,

And mimick'd all the fervants round;
Then, too, his parts and ready wit
Show'd him for every bufinefs fit.
With all thefe talents 'twas but juft,
That pug fhould hold a place of trust;
So to her favourite was affign'd
The charge of all her feather'd kind.
'Twas his to tend them eve and morn,
And portion out their daily corn.

Behold him now, with haughty ftride, Affume a ministerial pride.

You tell me that you apprehend

My verfe may touchy folks offend.

65 In prudence, too, you think my rhymes
Should never fquint at courtiers' crimes;
For though nor this nor that is meant,
Can we another's thoughts prevent?
You ask me if Tever knew
Court chaplains thus the lawn pursue ?
I meddle net with gown or lawn;

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5

Poets, I grant, to rife muft fawn;

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