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And when a lady's in the cafe,

You know, all other things give place.
To leave you thus might feem unkind;
But fee, the Goat is just behind.

The Goat remark'd her pulfe was high,
Her languid head, her heavy eye;
My back, fays he, may do you harm;
The Sheep's at hand, and wool is warm.

The Sheep was feeble, and complain'd His fides a load of wool fuftain'd: Said he was flow, confefs'd his fears; For hounds eat Sheep as well as Hares.

She now the trotting Calf addrefs'd,
To fave from death a friend diftrefs'd.
Shall I, fays he, of tender age,

In this important care engage?
Older and abler pass'd you by ;
How ftrong are those ! how weak am II
Should I prefume to bear you hence,
Those friends of mine may take offence.
Excuse me, then. You know my heart,
But dearest friends, alas! muft part.
How fhall we all lament! Adieu.
For fee the hounds are just in view.*

END OF THE FIRST PART

FABLE S

BY THE LATE

Mr. GAY.

PART THE SECOND.

TH

ADVERTISEMENT.

HESE FABLES were finished by Mr. GAY, and intended for the prefs, a fhort time before his death; when they were left, with his other papers, to the care of his noble friend and patron the Duke of QUEENSBERRY. His Grace has accordingly permitted them to the pref, and they are here printed from the originals in the author's own handwriting. We hope they will please equally with his former FABLES, though moftly on fubjects of a graver and more political turn. They will certainly fhew him to have been (what he esteemed the best character) a man of a truly honeft heart, and a fincere lover of his country.,

PART THE SECOND.

FABLE I.

The DoG and the Fox.

то A LAWYER.

Ι

KNOW you Lawyers can, with ease,
Twift words and meanings as you pleafe;

That language, by your fkill made pliant,
Will bend to favour ev'ry client;
That 'tis the fee directs the fenfe,
To make out either fide's pretence.
G 6

When

When you peruse the clearest case,
You fee it with a double face:
For fcepticism's your profeffion;
Your hold there's doubt in all expreffion

Hence is the bar with fees fupply'd,
Hence eloquence takes either fide.
Your hand would have but paltry gleaning;
Cou'd ev'ry man exprefs his meaning.
Who dares prefume to pen a deed,
Unless you previously are fee'd ?
'Tis drawn ; and, to augment the coft,
In dull prolixity ingrofs'd.

And now we're well fecur'd by law,

'Till the next brother find a flaw.

Read o'er a Will. Was't ever known,
But you could make the will your own;
For when you read, 'tis with intent
To find out meanings never meant.
Since things are thus, fe defendendo,
I bar fallacious inuendo.

Sagacious PORTA's skill could trace
Some beast or bird in ev'ry face.
The head, the eye, the nose's shape,
Prov'd this an owl, and that an ape.
When, in the sketches thus defign'd,
Refemblance brings fome friend to mind,
You fhew the piece, and give the hint,
And find each feature in the print;

So

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