Brother, you reafon well, replies
The folemn mate, with half-fhut eyes;
Right. Athens was the feat of learning,
And truly wisdom is difcerning.
Befides, on Pallas' helm we fit,
The type and ornament of wit:
But now, alas! we're quite neglected,
And a pert Sparrow's more refpected.
A Sparrow, who was lodg'd befide,
O'erhears them footh each other's pride,
And thus he nimbly vents his heat.
Who meets a fool muft find conceit.
I grant, you were at Athens grac'd,
And on Minerva's helm were plac'd,
But ev'ry bird that wings the sky,
Except an Owl, can tell you why."
From hence they taught their schools to know
How falfe we judge by outward show;
That we fhould never looks esteem,
Since fools as wife as you might feem.
Would ye contempt and scorn avoid,
Let your vain-glory be destroy'd:
Humble your arrogance of thought,
Pursue the ways by Nature taught;
So fhall you find delicious fare,
And grateful farmers praise your care:
So fhall fleek mice your chace reward,
And no keen cat find more regard.
E 6
The COURTIER and PROTEUS.
HENE'ER a courtier's out of place,
The country fhelters his difgrace;
Where, doom'd to exercife and health,
His house and gardens own his wealth,
He builds new fchemes in hope to gain
The plunder of another reign;
Like PHILIP's fon, would fain be doing,
And fighs for other realms to ruin.
As one of thefe (without his wand)
Penfive, along the winding ftrand
Employ'd the folitary hour,
In projects to regain his pow'r;
The waves in fpreading circles ran,
Proteus arofe, and thus began.
Came you from Court? For in your mien
A felf-important air is feen.
He frankly own'd his friends had trick'd him, And how he fell his party's victim.
Know, fays the God, by matchlefs skill
I change to ev'ry fhape at will;
But yet I'm told, at court you fee
Those who prefume to rival me.
Thus faid. A snake with hideous trail,
Proteus extends his fcaly mail.
Know, fays the Man, though proud in place,
All courtiers are of reptile race.
Like you, they take that dreadful form,
Bask in the fun, and fly the ftorm;
With malice hifs, with envy glote,
And for convenience change their coat;
With new-got luftre rear their head,
Though on a dunghill born and bred.
Sudden the God a lion ftands;
He shakes his mane, he fpurns the fands;
Now a fierce lynx, with fiery glare,
A wolf, an ass, a fox, a bear,
Had I ne'er liv'd at court, he cries,
Such transformation might surprise ;
But there, in quest of daily game,
Each able courtier acts the fame.
Wolves, lions, lynxes, while in place,
Their friends and fellows are their chase.
They play the bear's and fox's part;
Now rob by force, now fteal with art.
They fometimes in the fenate bray;
Or, chang'd again to beasts of prey,
Down from the lion to the ape,
Practife the frauds of ev'ry fhape,
So faid. Upon the God he flies,
In cords the struggling captive ties.
Now, Proteus, now, to (truth compell'd)
Speak, and confefs thy art excell'd.
Ufe ftrength, furprise, or what you will,
The courtier finds evafions ftill:
Not to be bound by any ties,
And never forc'd to leave his lies.
HOSE who in quarrels interpofe,
Muft often wipe a bloody nofe.
A Maftiff, of true English blood,
Lov'd fighting better than his food.
When dogs were fnarling for a bone,
He long'd to make the war his own,
And often found (when two contend)
To interpofe obtain'd his end;
He glory'd in his limping pace;
The fears of honour seam'd his face
In ev'ry limb a gash appears,
And frequent fights retrench'd his ears.
As, on a time, he heard from far
Two dogs engag'd in noify war,
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