In ftratagem and fubtle arts,
He over-rules the fox's parts.
It chanc'd, as, on a certain da
Along the bank, he took his way;
A boat, with rudder, fail, and oar,
At anchor floated near the fhore.
He ftopt, and turning to his train,
Thus pertly vents his vaunting ftrain.
What blund'ring puppies are mankind,
In ev'ry science always blind!
I mock the pedantry of fchools.
What are their compasses and rules ?
From me that helm fhall conduct learn,
And man his ignorance difcern.
So faying, with audacious pride,
He gains the boat, and climbs the fide.
The beafts aftonish'd line the ftrand.
The anchor's weigh'd, he drives from land.
The flack fail fhifts from fide to fide;
The boat untrim'd admits the tide.
Borne down, adrift, at random tost,
His oar breaks fhort, the rudder's loft.
The Bear, presuming in his skill,
Is here and there officious still;
Till, ftriking on the dang'rous fands,
A-ground the shatter'd veffel ftands.
To fee the bungler thus diftreft,
The very fishes fneer and jest.
Ev'n gudgeons join in ridicule,
To mortify the meddling fool.
The clam'rous watermen appear;
Threats, curfes, oaths, infult his ear:
Seir'd, thresh'd, and chain'd, he's dragg'd to land; Derifion fhouts along the strand.
TO A COUNTRY GENTLEMAN,
HE man of pure and fimple heart
Through life difdains a double part.
He never needs the fcreen of lies
His inward bofom to disguise.
In vain malicious tongues affail.
Let envy fnarl, let flander rail,
From virtue's fhield (fecure from wound)
Their blunted venom'd shafts rebound.
So fhines his light before mankind,
His actions prove his honeft mind.
If in his country's cause he rife,
Debating fenates to advise,
Unbrib'd, unaw'd, he dares impart
The honest dictates of his heart.
No minifterial frown he fears,
But in his virtue perseveres.
But would you play the politician,
Whofe heart's averfe to intuition,
Your lips, at all times, nay, your reafon
Must be controul'd by place and season.
What statesman could his pow'r fupport,
Were lying tongues forbid the court?
Did princely years to truth attend,
What minifter could gain his end?
How could he raife his tools to place,
And how his honeft foes difgrace?
That politician tops his part,
Who readily can lie with art.
The man's proficient in his trade;
His pow'r is ftrong, his fortune's made.
By that the int'reft of the throne
Is made fubfervient to his own:
By that have kings of old, deluded,
All their own friends for his excluded.
By that, his selfish schemes pursuing,
He thrives upon the public ruin.
* ANTIOCHUS, with hardy pace,
Provok'd the dangers of the chace;
And, loft from all his menial train,
Travers'd the wood and pathlefs plain.
A cottage lodg'd the royal gueft;
The PARTHIAN clown brought forth his best.
The king unknown his feaft enjoy'd,
And various chat the hours employ'd,
From wine what sudden friendship springs!
Frankly they talk'd of courts and kings.
We country-folk (the clown replies)
Cou'd ope our gracious monarch's eyes.
The king, (as all our neighbours fay)
Might he (God bless him) have his way,
Is found at heart, and means our good,
And he would do it, if he cou'd.
If truth in courts were not forbid,
Nor kings nor fubjects would be rid.
Were he in pow'r, we need not doubt him :
But that transferr'd to thofe about him,
On them he throws the regal cares :
And what mind they? their own affairs.
If fuch rapacious hands he trust,
The best of men may feem unjust.
From kings to coblers 'tis the fame :
Bad fervants wound their master's fame.
In this our neighbours all agree:
Would the king knew as much as we.
Here he ftopt fhort. Repofe they fought.
The peafant flept, the monarch thought.
The courtiers learn'd, at early dawn,
Where their loft fov'reign was withdrawn.
The guards approach, our hoft alarms,
With gaudy coats the cottage fwarms,
The crown and purple robes they bring,
And proftrate fall before the king.
The clown was call'd, the royal guest
By due reward his thanks expreft.
The king then, turning to the crowd,
Who fawningly before him bow'd,
Thus fpoke. Since, bent on private gain,
Your counfels firft mifled my reign,
Taught and inform'd by you alone,
No truth the royal ear hath known,
Till here converfing. Hence, ye crew,
For now I know myself and you.
Whene'er the royal ear's ingroft,
State-lies but little genius coft.
The fav'rite then fecurely robs,
And gleans a nation by his jobs.
Franker and bolder grown in ill,
He daily poifons dare inftil;
And, as his prefent views fuggeft,
Inflames or fooths the royal breast.
Thus wicked minifters opprefs,
When oft' the monarch means redress.
Would kings their private fubjects hear
A minifter muft talk with fear.
If honesty oppos'd his views,
He dare not innocence accufe.
"Twould keep him in fuch narrow bound, He could not right and wrong confound.
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