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The Spider, of mechanick kind,
Afpir'd to science more refin'd:
The Afs learnt metaphors and tropes,
But most on mufick fix'd his hopes.

The pupils now, advanc'd in age,
Were call'd to tread life's busy stage:
And to the master 'twas submitted,
That each might to his part be fitted.

The Swans (fays he) in arms shall shine: The foldier's glorious toil be thine.

The Cock fhall mighty wealth attain :
Go, feek it on the ftormy main.

The Court fhall be the Spider's sphere:
Pow'r, fortune, fhall reward him there.
In mufic's art the Afs's fame
Shall emulate CORELLI's name.

Fach took the part that he advis'd,

And all were equally defpis'd.

A Farmer, at his folly mov'd,
The dull preceptor thus reprov'd.

Blockhead (fays he) by what you've done.
One would have thought 'em each your fon:
For parents, to their offspring blind,
Confult nor parts nor turn of mind;
But ev'n in infancy decree

What this, what t'other fon should be.
Had you with judgment weigh'd the cafe,
Their genius thus had fix'd their place,

The

The Swan had learnt the sailor's art;
The cock had play'd the foldier's part;
The Spider in the weaver's trade
With credit had a fortune made;

But for the fool, in ev'ry class
The blockhead had appear'd an Afs.

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FABLE XV.

The COOK-MAID, the TURNSPIT, and the Ox.

TO A POOR MAN.

CONSIDER man in ev'ry sphere,

Then tell me, is your lot fevere;

'Tis murmur, difcontent, diftruft,
That makes you wretched. God is juft.

I grant, that hunger must be fed,

That toil too earns thy daily bread.

What then? Thy wants are feen and known,
But ev'ry mortal feels his own.

We're

We're born a reftlefs needy crew :
Shew me the happier man than you.

ADAM, though bleft above his kind,
For want of focial woman pin'd,
Eve's wants the fubtle ferpent faw,
Her fickle tafte tranfgrefs'd the law:
Thus fell our fires; and their difgrace
The curfe entail'd on human race.

When PHILIP's fon, by glory led, · Had o'er the globe his empire spread ;⠀ When altars to his name were drefs'd, That he was man, his tears confefs'd.

The hopes of av'rice are check'd:
The proud man always wants refpe&t.
What various wants on pow'r attend ♪
Ambition never gains its end.

Who hath not heard the rich complain
Of furfeits and corporeal pain?

He, barr'd from ev'ry ufe of wealth,

Envies the plowman's ftrength and health.
Another in a beauteous wife

Finds all the miseries of life;

Domestic jars and jealous fear

Imbitter all his days with care.
This wants an heir, the line is loft :'
Why was that vain entail ingroft ? ¡

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Canft thou difcern another's mind?
Why is't you envy? Envy's blind.
Tell Envy, when she would annoy,
That thousands want what you enjoy.

The dinner must be dish'd at one.
Where's this vexatious Turnfpit gone?
Unless the skulking Cur is caught,
The furloin's fpoil'd, and I'm in fault.
Thus faid; (for fure you'll think it fit
That I the Cook-maid's oaths omit)
With all the fury of a Cook,

Her cooler kitchen NAN forfook.

The broomstick o'er her head she waves;
She fweats, fhe ftamps, fhe puffs, the raves.
The fneaking Cur before her flies :
She whiftles, calls; fair fpeech she tries.
These nought avail. Her choler burns ;
The fift and cudgel threat by turns,
With hafty ftride fhe preffes near;
He flinks aloof, and howls with fear.
Was ever Cur fo curs'd! (he cry'd)
What ftar did at my birth prefide!
Am I for life by compact bound
To tread the wheel's eternal round?
Inglorious task! Of all our race
No flave is half fo mean and base.

Had

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