He, confcious of fuperior merit,
Contemns their bafe reviling fpirit;
His ftate and dignity affumes,
And to the fun displays his plumes,
Which, like the Heavens' o'er-arching skies,
Are fpangled with a thousand eyes.
The circling rays, and varied light,
At once confound their dazzled fight;
On every tongue detraction burns,
And malice prompts their spleen by turns.
"Mark with what infolence and pride
The creature takes his haughty ftride,
The Turkey cries. Can fpleen contain?
Sure never bird was half fo vain!
But, were intrinfic merit feen,
We Turkeys have the whiter skin.”
From tongue to tongue they caught abufe;
And next was heard the hiffing Goose :
"What hideous legs! what filthy claws!
I fcorn to cenfure little flaws.
Then what a horrid fqualling throat!
Ev'n owls are frighted at the note."
"True. Thofe are faults, the Peacock cries;
My fcream, my fhanks, you may despise;
But fuch blind critics rail in vain.
What! overlook my radiant train !
Know, did my legs (your fcorn and fport)
The Turkey or the Goose fupport,
And did ye fcream with harsher found,
Thofe faults in you had ne'er been found:
To all apparent beauties blind,
Each blemish ftrikes an envious mind.
Thus in affemblies have I feen
A nymph of brighteft charms and mien
Wake envy in each ugly face,
And buzzing scandal fills the place.
CUPID, HYMEN, AND PLUTUS.
S Cupid in Cythera's grove
Employ'd the leffer powers of Love,
Some shape the bow, or fit the ftring,
Some give the taper shaft its wing,
Or turn the polish'd quiver's mould,
Or head the darts with temper'd gold.
Amidft their toil and various care,
Thus Hymen, with affuining air,
Addrefs'd the God: “Thou purblind chit,
Of aukward and ill-judging wit,
If matches are not better made,
At once I must forfwear my trade.
You fend me fuch ill coupled folks,
That 'tis a fhame to fell them yokes.
They fquabble for a pin, a feather,
And wonder how they came together.
The huíband 's fullen, dogged, shy,
The wife grows flippant in reply:
He loves command and due restriction;
And fhe as well likes contradiction:
VOL. II.
She never flavishly submits;
She'll have her will, or have her fits.
He this way tugs, the th' other draws ;'
The man grows jealous, and with caufe.
Nothing can fave him but divorce;
And here the wife complies of course."
"When, fays the boy, had I to do
With either your affairs or you?
I never idly spend my darts;
You trade in mercenary hearts.
For fettlements the lawyer's fee'd ;
Is my hand witnefs to the deed?
If they like cat and dog agree,
'Go rail at Plutus, not at me."
Plutus appear'd, and said, "'Tis true,
In marriage, gold is all their view;
They feek not beauty, wit, or fenfe,
And love is feldom the pretence.
All offer incenfe at my fhrine,
And I alone the bargain fign.
How can Belinda blame her fate?
She only afk'd a great eftate.
Doris was rich enough, 'tis true;
Her lord must give her title too :
And every man, or rich or poor,
A fortune afks, and asks no more.'
Avarice, whatever shape it bears,
Muft ftill be coupled with its cares.
THE TAME STAG.
S a young Stag the thicket paft,
The branches held his antlers faft.
A clown, who faw the captive hung,
Across the horns his halter flung.
Now fafely hamper'd in the cord,
He bore the present to his lord.
His lord was pleas'd; as was the clown,
When he was tipp'd with half-a-crown.
The Stag was brought before his wife;
The tender lady begg'd his life.
How fleek's the skin! how speck'd like ermine'!
Sure never creature was fo charming!
At first within the yard confin'd,
He flies and hides from all mankind;
Now bolder
with fix'd amaze,
grown,
And distant awe, prefumes to gaze;
Munches the linen on the lines,
And on a hood or apron dines :
He fteals my little master's bread,
Follows the fervants to be fed :
Nearer and nearer now he stands,
To feel the praise of patting hands;
Examines every fift for meat,
And, though repuls'd, difdains retreat;
Attacks again with level'd horns,
And man, that was his terror, fcerns.
Such is the country maiden's fright,
When first a Redcoat is in fight;
Behind the door fhe hides her face,
Next time at distance eyes the lace :
She now can all his terrors ftand,
Nor from his fqueeze withdraws her hand.
She plays familiar in his arms,
MONKEY, to reform the times,
Refolv'd to visit foreign climes ;
For men in diftant regions roam,
To bring politer manners home.
So forth he fares, all toil defies:
Misfortune ferves to make us wife.
At length the treacherous fnare was laid;
Poor Pug was caught; to Town convey'd;
There fold. (How envy'd was his doom,
Male captive in a lady's room !)
Proud, as a lover, of his chains,
He day by day her favour gains.
Whene'er the duty of the day
The toilette calls, with mimic play
He twirls her knots, he cracks her fan,
Like any other gentleman.
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