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,
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 abuse,
And next was heard the hiffing Goofe.
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,
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 feen

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

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.
Amidst 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 muft 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, fhy,
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 caufe;

Nothing

Nothing can fave him but divorce,
And here the wife complains of courfe.
When, fays the Boy, had I to do
With either your affairs or you?
I never idly spend my darts;
You trade in mercenary hearts:
For fettlements the lawyer's feed,
Is my hand witnefs to the deed?
If they like cat and dog agree,
Go rail at Plutus, not at me.

Plutus appear'd, and faid: 'Tis true,
In marriage, gold is all their view;
They feek not beauty, wit, or fenfe,
And love is feldom the pretence.
All offer incenfe at my fhrine,
And I alone the bargain fign.
How can Belinda blame her fate?
She only afk'd a great estate.
Doris was rich enough, 'tis true,
Her Lord must give her title too :
And every man, or rich or poor, ́
A fortune afks, and asks no more.
Av'rice, whatever fhape it bears,
Muft ftill be coupled with its cares.

A

XIV. The TAME STAG.

Sa young Stag a thicket pafs'd,
The branches held his antlers faft;
A clown, who faw the captive hung,
Across the horns his halter flung.

Now, fafely hamper'd in the cord,
He bore the prefent to his lord:
His lord was pleas'd; as was the clown,
When he was tipt with half-a-crown.
The Stag was brought before his wife,
The tender lady begg'd his life.

How

How fleek's the fkin, how fpeck'd like ermine!
Sure never creature was fo charming!

At first within the yard confin'd,
He flies and hides from all mankind;
Now bolder grown, with fixt amaze,
And diftant awe, prefumes to gaze;
Munches the linen on the lines,
And on a hood or apron dines;
He fteals my little mafter's bread,
Follows the fervants to be fed;
Nearer and nearer now he ftands,
To feel the praise of patting hands;
Examines every fift for meat,
And tho' repuls'd, difdains retreat;
Attacks again with levell'd horns,
And man, that was his terror, fcorns.
Such is the country maiden's fright,
When first a red-coat is in fight,
Behind the door fhe hides her face,
Next time at diftance eyes the lace;
She now can all his terrors ftand,
Nor from his fqueeze withdraws her hand:
She plays familiar in his arms,
And every foldier hath his charms;
From tent to tent fhe spreads her flame,
For cuftom conquers fear and shame.

XV. The MONKEY who had feen the World.

A Monkey, to reform the times;

Refolv'd to vifit foreign climes;
For men in diftant regions roam,
To bring politer manners home.
So forth he fares, all toil defies;
Misfortunes ferve to make us wife.
At length the treach'rous fnare was laid,
Poor Pug was caught, to town convey'd,

There

There fold: (How envy'd was his doom)
Made captive in a lady's room!
Proud as a lover of his chains,
He day by day her favour gains.
Whene'er the duty of the day
The toilette calls, with mimic play
He twirls her knots, he cracks her fan,
Like any other gentleman.

In vifits too his parts and wit,
When jefts grow dull, were fure to hit.
Proud with applaufe, he thought his mind
In every courtly art refin'd,

Like Orpheus burnt with public zeal,
To civilize the Monkey-weal;

So watch'd occafion, broke his chain,
And fought his native woods again.

The hairy fylvans round him prefs,
Aftonifh'd at his ftrut and dress;
Some praife his fleeve, and others glote
Upon his rich embroider'd coat;
His dapper perriwig commending,
With the black tail behind depending;
Mis powder'd back,-above, below,
Like hoary frofts, or fleecy fnow;
But all, with envy and defire,
His flutt'ring fhoulder-knot admire.

Hear and improve, he pertly cries,

I come to make a nation wife:

Weigh your own worth,-support your place,
The next in rank to human race.

In cities long I pafs'd my days,
Convers'd with men, and learnt their ways:
Their drefs, their courtly manners fee,
Reform your ftate, and copy me.
Seek ye to thrive? In flatt'ry deal,
Your fcorn, your hate, with that conceal;
Seem only to regard your friends,
But use them for your private ends;