25

Nor would it mighty ills produce,
Could I fhame bribery out of use.
I know 'twould cramp most politicians,
Were they ty'd down to these conditions.
"Twould ftint their power, their riches bound,
And make their parts feem less profound.
Were they deny'd their proper tools,

How could they lead their knaves and fools?
Were this the cafe, let's take a view
What dreadful mifchiefs would enfue.
Though it might aggrandize the state,
Could private luxury dine on plate?
Kings might indeed their friends reward,
But minifters find less regard.
Informers, fycophants, and fpies,

30

3.5

Would not augment the year's fupplies..

40

Perhaps, too, take away this prop,
An annual jobb or two might drop.
Befides, if penfions were deny'd,
Could Avarice fupport its pride?
It might ev'n ministers confound,
And yet the state be fafe and found.
I care not though 'tis understood;

I only mean my country's good :

And (let who will my freedom blame)

I wish all courtiers did the fame.

Nay, though fome folks the lefs might get,

I wish the nation out of debt.

I put no private man's ambition
With public good in competition

45

5.0

Rather

K 3

Rather than have our laws defac'd,
I'd vote a minister disgrac'd.

I ftrike at vice, be 't where it will;
And what if great folks take it ill ?`
I hope corruption, bribery, penfion,
One may with deteftation mention;
Think you the law (let who will take it)
Can fcandalum magnatum make it?

55

60%

I vent no flander, owe no grudge,
Nor of another's confcience judge:

At him or him I take no aim,

65

Yet dare against all vice declain.
Shall I not cenfure breach of truft,

Because knaves know themselves unjust ?
That steward, whofe account is clear,
Demands his honour may appear :
His actions never fhun the light;
He is, and would be prov❜d, upright.
But then you think my Fable bears
Allufion, too, to state-affairs.

:

70.

I grant it does and who's fo great, That has the privilege to cheat?

751

For he had impudence at will,
And boafted univerfal skill.

Ambition was his point in view:

Thus by degrees to power he grew.
Behold him now his drift attain:
He's made chief treasurer of the grain.
But as their ancient laws are just,
And punish breach of public truft,

85

90

'Tis order'd (left wrong application

Should ftarve that wife induftrious nation)
That all accounts be stated clear,

95

Their ftock, and what defray'd the year;
That auditors fhall thefe infpect,
And public rapine thus be check'd.
For this the folemn day was fet;
The auditors in council met.
The granary-keeper must explain,
And balance his account of grain.

He brought (fince he could not refuse them):
Some fcraps of paper to amufe them.

An honeft Pifmire, warm with zeal,

In juftice to the public weal,

Thus fpoke: "The nation's hoard is low;
From whence does this profution flow ?

I know our annual funds' amount;

100

105

Why fuch expence? and where's th' account?" 110

With wonted arrogance and pride,

The Ant in office thus reply'd.

"Confider, Sirs, were fecrets told,

How could the best-fchem'd projects hold?

My duty and my well-known zeal
Bid me our present fchemes conceal:

But, on my honour, all th' expence

(Though vaft) was for the fwarm's defence." 120 They pafs'd th' account as fair and just,

And voted him implicit truft.

Next year again, the granary drain’d, He thus his innocence maintain'd.

"Think how our prefent matters ftand,

What dangers threat from

every

hand;

What hofts of turkeys ftroll for food,

No farmer's wife but hath her brood..

125

Confider, when invasion's near,

Intelligence must cost us dear;
And, in this ticklish fituation,
A fecret told betrays the nation ::

But, on my honour, all th' expence

(Though vaft) was for the fwarm's defence."

Again, without examination,

They thank'd his fage administration.

The year revolves. Their treasure, spent,

Again in fecret fervice went.

His honour, too, again was pledg'd,

To fatisfy the charge alledg'd.

When thus, with panic fhame poffefs'd, An auditor his friends addrefs'd.

What are we? minifterial tools ! We little knaves are greater fools.

130.

135

140

A

At last this fecret is explor'd,
'Tis our corruption thins the hoard.
For every grain we touch'd, at least
A thoufand his own heaps increas'd.
Then for his kin and favourite spies,
A hundred hardly could fuffice.
Thus, for a paltry fneaking bribe,
We cheat ourselves and all the tribe ;:
For all the magazine contains

145

150%

Grows from our annual toil and pains.”

They vote th' account fhall be infpected;

The cunning plunderer is detected;
The fraud is sentenc'd; and his hoard,
As due, to public use restor❜d..

THAT

Whofe fearch is bent himself to know;

Impartially he weighs his fcope,

And on firm reafon founds his hope;
He tries his ftrength before the race,
And never feeks his own difgrace;
He knows the compass, fail, and oar,
Or never launches from the fhore;
Before he builds, computes the coft,.
And in no proud pursuit is lost :

155

10

Ha