The Mufe difdains to steal from thofe,
Who thrive in courts by fulfome profe.
But fhall I hide your real praise,
Or tell you what a nation fays?
They in
your infant-bofom trace
The virtues of your royal race;
In the fair dawning of your mind
Difcern you gen'rous, mild, and kind:
They see you grieve to hear distress,
And pant already to redress.
Go on, the height of good attain,
Nor let a nation hope in vain.
For hence we justly may prefage
The virtues of a riper age.
True courage fhall your bofom fire,
And future actions own your fire.
Cowards are cruel; but the brave
Love mercy, and delight to fave.
A Tyger roaming for his prey,
Sprung on a trav❜ler in the way;
The proftrate game a Lion spies,
And on the greedy tyrant flies:
With mingled roar refounds the wood,
Their teeth, their claws diftil with blood;
Till vanquish'd by the Lion's ftrength,
The spotted foe extends his length.
The Man befought the fhaggy lord,
And on his knees for life implor'd.
His life the gen'rous hero gave;
Together walking to his cave,
The Lion thus bespoke his gueft.
What hardy beaft shall dare contest
My matchless strength! You faw the fight,
And must atteft my pow'r and right.
Forc'd to forego their native home,
My starving slaves at distance roam :
Within these woods I reign alone,
The boundless forest is my own.
Bears, wolves, and all the favage brood,
Have dy'd the regal den with blood.
Thefe carcaffes on either hand,
Those bones that whiten all the land,
My former deeds and triumphs tell,
Beneath thefe jaws what numbers fell.
True, fays the Man, the ftrength I faw
Might well the brutal nation awe:
But fhall a monarch, brave like you,
Place glory in fo false a view?
Robbers invade their neighbours right.
Be lov'd let juftice bound your might
Mean are ambitious heroes boasts.
Of wafted lands and flaughter'd hofts..
Pirates their power by murders gain,
Wife kings by love and mercy reign.
To me your clemency hath shown
The virtue worthy of a throne.
Heav'n gives you pow'r above the reft,
Like Heav'n to fuccour the distrest.
The cafe is plain, the Monarch faid;
False glory hath my youth misled;
For beafts of prey, a fervile train,
Have been the flatt'rers of my reign.
You reafon well. Yet tell me, friend,
Did ever you in courts attend?
For all my fawning rogues agree
That human heroes rule like me.
The SPANIEL and the CAMELEON,
A Spaniel, bred with all the care
That waits upon a favʼrite heir,
Ne'er felt correction's rigid hand;
Indulg'd to difobey command,
In pamper'd ease his hours were spent::
He never knew what learning meant.
Such forward airs, so pert, so smart,
Were fure to win his lady's heart;
Each little mischief gain'd him praise ;
How pretty were his fawning ways!
The wind was fouth, the morning fair,
He ventures forth to take the air.
He ranges all the meadow round,
And rolls upon the fofteft ground:
When near him a Cameleon feen,
Was fcarce diftinguifh'd from the green;
Dear emblem of the flatt'ring hoft,
What, live with clowns; a genius loft!
To cities and the court repair;
A fortune cannot fail thee there:
Preferment fhall thy talents crown,
Believe me, friend; I know the town.
Sir, fays the Sycophant, like you,
Of old, politer life I knew:
Like you, a courtier born and bred;
Kings lean'd their ear to what I faid.
My whisper always met fuccefs
The ladies prais'd me for address.
I knew to hit each courtier's paffion,
And flatter'd every vice in fashion.
But Jove who hates the liar's ways,
At once cut short my profp❜rous days;
And, fentenc'd to retain my nature,
Transform'd me to this crawling creature.
Doom'd to a life obfcure and mean,
I wander in the fylvan scene.
For Jove the heart alone regards;
He punishes what man rewards.
How diff'rent is thy cafe and mine!
With men at least you fup and dine ;
While I, condemn'd to thinnest fare,
Like thofe I flatter'd, feed on air.
The MOTHER, the NURSE, and the FAIRY.
The bleffing fent,
Were ever parents more content?
How partial are their doating eyes!
No child is half so fair and wife.
Wak'd to the morning's pleasing care,
The Mother rofe, and fought her heir.
She faw the Nurfe, like one poffefs'd,
With wringing hands, and sobbing breast.
Sure fome difafter has befell:
Speak, Nurfe; I hope the boy is well.
Dear Madam, think not me to blame;
Invifible the Fairy came :
Your precious babe is hence convey'd,
And in the place a changeling laid.
Where are the father's mouth and nose,
The mother's eyes, as black as floes?
See here, a fhocking aukward creature,
That speaks a fool in ev'ry feature.
The woman's blind, the Mother cries
I fee wit fparkle in his eyes.
Lord! Madam, what a fquinting leer! No doubt the Fairy hath been here.
Just as she spoke, a Pigmy Sprite
Pops through the key hole, fwift as light;
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