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And power (when lodg'd in their poffeffion)
Grows tyranny, and rank oppreffion.
Thus, when the villain crams his cheft,
Gold is the canker of the breast;
"Tis avarice, infolence, and pride,
And ev'ry shocking vice befide.
But when to virtuous hands 'tis given,
It bleffes, like the dews of heaven:
Like heav'n, it hears the orphan's cries,
And wipes the tears from widows' eyes ;.
Their crimes on gold fhall mifers lay,
Who pawn'd their fordid fouls for pay?
Let bravoes then (when blood is spilt)
Upbraid the paffive fword with guilt.

FABLE VII.

The LION, the Fox, and the GEESE.

A Lion, tir'd with ftate affairs,

Quite fick of pomp, and worn with cares,
Refolv'd (remote from noise and strife)
In peace to pass his latter life.

It was proclaim'd; the day was fet:
Behold the gen❜ral council met.
The Fox was Viceroy nam'd. The crowd
To the new Regent humbly bow'd.
Wolves, bears, and mighty tygers bend,
And ftrive who most shall condefcend.

He,

He ftrait affumes a folemn grace,

Collects his wisdom in his face,

The crowd admire his wit, his fense:
Each word hath weight and confequence.
The flatt'rer all his art displays :

He who hath power, is fure of praise.
A Fox ftept forth before the reft,
And thus the fervile throng addrest.
How vaft his talents, born to

A

to rule,

And train'd in Virtue's honeft fchool!

What clemency his temper fways!
How uncorrupt are all his ways!
Beneath his conduct and command
Rapine fhall ceafe to wafte the land.
His brain hath stratagem. and
tagem and heart;

Prudence e and mercy rule his art 3
What blessings must attend the Nation
Under this good administration!

He faid. A Goofe, who diftant flood, Harangu'd apart the cackling brood.

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Whene'er I hear a knave commend,
He bids me fhun his worthy friend.
What praise ! what mighty commendation
But 'twas a Fox who spoke th' oration.
Foxes this government may prize,
As gentle, plentiful, and wife;
If they enjoy thefe fweets, 'tis plain
We Geefe muft,feel a tyrant reign.

VOL. IV.

B

What

1

What havock now fhall thin our race,

When ev'ry petty clerk in place,

To prove his tafte, and feem polite,
Will feed on Geefe both noon and night! I

FABLE VIII.

The LADY and the WASP.

HAT whifpers muft the Beauty bear!

WH

1

What hourly nonfenfe haunts her ear! Where-e'er her eyes difpenfe their charms, Impertinence around her fwarms.

Did not the tender nonsense strike,
Contempt and fcorn might look diflike;
Forbidding airs might thin the place,
'The slightest flap a fly can chase.

But who can drive the nam'rous breed?

Chafe one, another will fucceed.

Who knows a fool, muft know his brother;

One fop will recommend another

And with this plague fhe's rightly curft,
Because she liften'd to the first.

As DORIS, at her toilette's duty,

Sat meditating on her beauty,

was gay,

She now was penfive, now
And loll'd the fultry hours away.

A

3

As thus in indolence the lies,
A giddy Wafp around her flies.
He now advances, now retires,
Now to her neck and cheek afpires.
Her fan in vain defends her charms;
Swift he returns, again alarms;

For by repulse he bolder grew,
Perch'd on her lip and fipt the dew.

She frowns, she frets. Good gods! fhe cries,
Protect me from these teazing flies!
Of all the plagues that heav'n hath fent,
A Wafp is most impertinent.

The hov❜ring infect thus complain'd.
Am I then flighted, fcorn'd, disdain'd ?
Can fuch offence your anger wake?
'Twas beauty caus'd the bold mistake.
Those cherry lips that breathe perfume,
That cheek fo ripe with youthful bloom,
Made me with ftrong defire pursue
The fairest peach that ever grew.

Strike him not, JENNY, DORIS cries,
Nor murder Wafps like vulgar flies:
For though he's free (to do him right)
The creature's civil and polite.

In ecftafies away he pofts;
Where-e'er he came, the favour boasts;
Brags how her sweetest tea he fips,
And fhews the fugar on his lips.

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The hint alarm'd the forward crew. Sure of fuccefs, away they flew. They share the dainties of the day, Round her with airy mufic play; And now they flutter, now they reft, Now foar again, and skim her breast. Nor were they banish'd, till fhe found That Wafps have ftings, and felt the wound.

FABLE IX.

The BULL and the MASTIFF.

EEK you to train your fav'rite boy?

"

Each caution, ev'ry care employ:

And ere you venture to confide,

Let his preceptor's heart be try'd:
Weigh well his manners, life, and fcope:
On thefe depends thy future hope.

As on a time, in peaceful reign,

A Bull enjoy'd the flow'ry plain,
A Maftiff pafs'd; inflam'd with ire,
His eye-balls fhot indignant fire;

He foam'd, he rag'd with thirst of blood.
Spurning the ground the monarch flood,
And roar'd aloud. Sufpend the fight;
In a whole skin, go fleep to-night:
Or tell me, ere the battle rage,
What wrongs provoke thee to engage?

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