No author ever fpar'd a brother,

Wits are game-cocks to one another,

XII. The PEACOCK, the TURKEY, and the GooSE.

N beauty faults confpicuous grow,

IN

The fmalleft fpeck is feen on fnow.
As near a barn, by hunger led,
A Peacock with the poultry fed,
All view'd him with an envious eye,
And mock'd his gaudy pageantry :
He, confcious of fuperior merit,
Contemns their bafe, reviling fpirit,
His dignity and ftate affumes,
And to the fun difplays his plumes,
Which, like the heaven's o'er-arching fkies,
Are fpangled with a thousand eyes;
The circling rays and vary'd light
At once confound their dazzled fight,
On every tongue detraction burns,
And malice prompts their spleen by turns.
Mark, with what infolence and pride
The creature takes his haughty ftride,
The Turkey cries. Can fpleen contain?
Sure never bird was half fo vain!
But were intrinfic merit feen,
We Turkeys have the whiter skin.

From tongue to tongue they caught abufe,
And next was heard the hifling Goose.
What hideous legs! what filthy claws!
I fcorn to cenfure little flaws;
Then with a horrid fquawling throat!
Even owls are frighted at the note.

True, thofe are faults, the Peacock cries,
My fcream, my fhanks, you may despise;
But fuch blind critics rail in vain,
What, overlook my radiant train!

Know,

.

Know, did my legs (your fcorn and fport)
The Turkey or the Goofe fupport,
And did you fcream with harfher found,
Thofe faults in you had ne'er been found :
To all apparent beauties blind,

Each blemish ftrikes an envious mind.
Thus in affemblies have I seen

A nymph of brightest charms and mein,
Wake envy in each ugly face;

And buzzing scandal fills the place.

XIII. CUPID, HYMEN, and PLUTUS.

S Cupid in Cythera's grove

A Employ'd the leffer powers of love;

Some fhape the bow, or fit the string,
Some give the taper fhaft its wing,

Or turn the polish'd quiver's mould,
Or head the darts with temper'd gold.
Amidft their toil and various care,
Thus Hymen, with affuming air,
Addrefs'd the God: Thou purblind chit,
Of aukward and ill-judging wit,
If matches are no better made,
At once I must forfwear my trade.
You fend me fuch ill-coupled folks,
That 'tis a fhame to fell them yokes;
They fquabble for a pin, a feather,
And wonder how they came together.
The husband's fullen, dogged, thy,
The wife grows flippant in reply;
He loves command, and due restriction,
And the as well likes contradiction;
She never flavishly fubmits,

She'll have her will, or have her fits;
He this way tugs, the t'other draws,
The man grows jealous, and with cause ;

Nothing

No author ever fpar'd a brother,

Wits are game-cocks to one another,

The PEACOCK, the TURKEY, and the Goose. N beauty faults confpicuous grow,

The fmalleft fpeck is feen on fnow.
As near a barn, by hunger led,
A Peacock with the poultry fed,
All view'd him with an envious eye,
And mock'd his gaudy pageantry :
He, confcious of fuperior merit,
Contemns their bafe, reviling fpirit,
His dignity and ftate affumes,
And to the fun difplays his plumes,
Which, like the heaven's o'er-arching fkies,
Are fpangled with a thousand eyes;
The circling rays and vary'd light
At once confound their dazzled fight,
On every tongue detraction burns,
And malice prompts their spleen by turns.
Mark, with what infolence and pride
The creature takes his haughty ftride,
The Turkey cries. Can fpleen contain?
Sure never bird was half fo vain!
But were intrinfic merit feen,
We Turkeys have the whiter skin.

From tongue to tongue they caught abufe,
And next was heard the hiffling Goose.
What hideous legs! what filthy claws!
I fcorn to cenfure little flaws;
Then with a horrid fquawling throat!
Even owls are frighted at the note.

True, thofe are faults, the Peacock cries,
My fcream, my fhanks, you may defpife;
But fuch blind critics rail in vain,
What, overlook my radiant train!

Know,

Know, did my legs (your fcorn and fport)
The Turkey or the Goofe fupport,

And did you fcream with harfher found,
Those faults in you had ne'er been found:
To all apparent beauties blind,

Each blemish ftrikes an envious mind.
Thus in affemblies have I seen

A nymph of brightest charms and mein,
Wake envy in each ugly face;
And buzzing fcandal fills the place.

XIII. CUFID, HYMEN, and PLUTUS.

S Cupid in Cythera's grove

A Employ'd the leffer powers of love;

Some fhape the bow, or fit the ftring,
Some give the taper fhaft its wing,

Or turn the polish'd quiver's mould,
Or head the darts with temper'd gold.
Amidft their toil and various care,
Thus Hymen, with affuming air,
Addrefs'd the God: Thou purblind chit,
Of aukward and ill-judging wit,
If matches are no better made,
At once I must forfwear my trade.
You fend me fuch ill-coupled folks,
That 'tis a fhame to fell them yokes;
They fquabble for a pin, a feather,
And wonder how they came together.
The husband's fullen, dogged, ihy,
The wife grows flippant in reply;
He loves command, and due restriction,
And the as well likes contradiction;
She never flavishly fubmits,

She'll have her will, or have her fits;
He this way tugs, the t'other draws,
The man grows jealous, and with cause ;

Nothing

But when to virtuous hands 'tis given,
It bleffes, like the dews of heaven;
Like heaven, 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 fpilt,
Upbraid the paffive fword with guilt.

VIII. The LION, the Fox, and the GEESE.

A Lion, trd with ftate affairs,

Quite fick with pomp, and worn with cares,
Refolv'd (remote from noife and ftrife)
In peace to pafs 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 Tigers bend,
And ftrive who moft fhall condefcend.
He ftraight affumes a folemn grace,
Collects his wifdom in his face;
The crowd, admire his wit, his fenfe,
Each word hath weight and confequence;
The flatt'rer all his art difplays:
He who hath pow'r is fure of praife.
A Fox ftept forth before the reft,
And thus the fervile throng addreft:-

How vaft his talents, born 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 cease to wafte the land;
His brain hath ftratagem and art,
Prudence and mercy rule his heart.
What bleffings must attend the nation,
Under this good adminiftration!

He