The lengthening fong, the foft'ning ftrain,
Our chatt'ring Pye attempts in vain;
For to the fool's eternal fhame,
All fhe could compafs was a fcream.
The birds enrag'd, around her fly,
Nor fhelter nor defence is nigh:
The caitiff wretch, diftrefs'd-forlorn!
On ev'ry fide is pecked and torn!
"Till for her vile, afrocious lies,
Under their angry beaks fhe dies.

Such be his fate, whofe fcoundrel claim
Obtrudes upon another's fame.

A

LXXVI. The ANT and CATERPILLAR.

C.

San Ant, of his talents fuperiorly vain, Was trotting, with confequence, over the plain, A Worm, in his progress remarkably flow,

Cry'd" Blefs your good worship wherever you go; "I hope your great mightiness won't take it ill, "I pay my refpects with a hearty good will." With a look of contempt and impertinent pride, "Begone you vile reptile," his Antfhip reply'd; "Go-go and lament your contemptible state, "But first-look at me-fee my limbs how complete; "I guide all my motions with freedom and eafe, "Run backward and forward, and turn when I please: "Of Nature (grown weary) you shocking effay "I fpurn you thus from me-crawl out of my way.” The Reptile infulted, and vext to the foul, Crept onwards, and hid himself close in his hole; But Nature, determin'd to end his diftrefs, Soon fent him abroad in a Butterfly's drefs.. 'Ere long, the proud Ant, as repaffing the road, (Fatigu'd from the harveft, and tugging his load) The beau on a violet bank he beheld, Whose vesture, in glory, a monarch's excell'd; His plumage extended-'twas rare to behold So lovely a mixture of purple and gold.

The

The Ant quite amaz'd at a figure fo gay, Bow'd low with refpect, and was trudging away. "Stop, friend, fays the Butterfly don't be fur"priz'd,

I once was the reptile you fpurn'd and defpis'd; "But now I can mount, in the fun-beams I play, "While you muft, for ever, drudge on in your way."

A wretch, though to-day he's o'erloaded with forrow, May foar above thofe that opprefs'd him, to-morrow.

A

LXXVII.

The Rose and BUTTERFLY.

C.

T day's early dawn a gay Butterfly fpy'd
A budding young Rofe, and he with'd her his

bride:

She blush'd when fhe heard him his paffion declare,
And tenderly told him he need not defpair,

}

Their faith was foon plighted, as lovers will do, He fwore to be conftant, the vow'd to be true. It had not been prudent to deal with delay, The bloom of a rofe paffes quickly away, And the pride of a butterfly dies in a day. When wedded, away the wing'd gentleman hies, From flow'ret to flow'ret he wantonly flies; Nor did he revifit his bride, 'till the fun Had lefs than one-fourth of his journey to run. The Rofe thus reproach'd him-Already fo cold! How feign'd, O you falfe one, the paffion you told ! Tis an age fince you left me:" She meant a few 'hours;

But fuch we'll fuppofe the fond language of flowers: 'I faw when you gave the bafe violet a kifs:

How-how could you ftoop to a meanness like this? Shall a low, little wretch, whom we Rofes defpife, Find favour, Olove! in a Butterfly's eyes? On a tulip, quite tawdry, I faw your fond rape, Nor yet could the pitiful primrose escape: • Dull daffodils too, were with ardour addrefs'd, And poppies, ill-fcented, you kindly carefs'd.'

The

The coxcomb was piqued, and reply'd with a fneer, • That you're first to complain, I commend you my dear!

But know, from your conduct my maxims I drew, And if I'm inconftant, I copy from you.

I faw the boy Zephyrus rifle your charms, I faw how you fimper'd, and smil'd in his arms; The honey-bee kifs'd you, you cannot difown, 'You favour'd befides-O dishonour-a drone; 'Yet worse-'tis a crime that you must not deny, Your sweets were made common, falfe Rofe, to a fly." This law, long ago, did Love's Providence make, That ev'ry Coquet fhould be curs'd with a rake,

C.

LXXVIII. The SHEEP and the BRAMBLE-BUSH.

A

Thick-twisted brake, in the time of a storm,
Seem'd kindly to cover a Sheep:

So fnug, for a while, he lay fhelter'd and warm,
It quietly footh'd him a-sleep.

The clouds are now fcatter'd-the winds are at peace
The Sheep to his pasture inclin'd:

But ah! the fell thicket lays hold of his fleece,
His coat is left forfeit behind.

My friend, who the thicket of law never try'd,
Confider before you get in;

Tho' judgment and fentence are pafs'd on your fide,
By Jove, you'll be fleec'd to the skin.

T

LXXIX. The Fox and the CAT.

C.

HE Fox and the Cat, as they travell'd one day, With moral difcourfes cut fhorter the way: 'Tis great (fays the Fox) to make juftice our guide!' How godlike is mercy!' Grimalkin reply'd.

While thus they proceeded,-a Wolf from the wood, Impatient of hunger, and thirsting for blood, Rufh'd forth-as he faw the dull fhepherd asleep, And feiz'd for his fupper an innocent Sheep.

In vain, wretched victim, for mercy you bleat, • When mutton's at hand, (fays the Wolf) I must eat. Grimalkin's aftonish'd,—the Fox ftood aghaft,

To fee the fell beaft at his bloody repaft.

What a wretch, (fays the Cat) 'tis the vileft of brutes: Does he feed upon flefh, when there's herbage, and

'roots?"

Cries the Fox-While our oaks give us acorns fo good, What a tyrant is this, to fpill innocent blood?"

Well, onward they march'd, and they moraliz'd ftill, 'Till they came where fome poultry pick'd chaff by a mill;

Sly Reynard furvey'd them with gluttonous eyes,
And made, fpite of morals, a pullet his prize.

A Moufe too, that chanc'd from her covert to ftray, The greedy Grimalkin fecur'd as her prey.

A Spider that fat in her web on the wall, Perceiv'd the poor victims, and pity'd their fall; She cry'd Of Tuch murders how guiltless am I!' So ran to regale on a new-taken fly.

The faults of our neighbours with freedom we blame, But tax not ourselves, tho' we practife the fame.

C.

1

AD

ADMONITORY CONCLUSION;

O R,

KIND of SUMMARY of the WHOLE.

Brother Citizens and School-fellows,

L

AY up thefe nine heads in your memory, with as much care as if they were a prefent from the nine Mufes.

First, Be candid, fincere, and modeftly grave. Let juftice and piety have their fhare in your character. Let your temper be remarkable for mildness and goodnature; and be always enterprifing and vigorous in your bufinefs. And, in fhort, ftrive to be just such

as virtue and learning would make you.

Secondly, Be always doing fomething ferviceable to mankind, and let this conftant generofity be your only pleasure; not forgetting, in the mean time, a due reverence and regard for God and religion.

Thirdly, Bring your will to your fate, and fuit your mind to your circumftances. For

Shining heaps of maffy plate,

All the gewgaws men prefer,
Gilded roofs and beds of ftate,
Cannot real wealth confer.
The man that's honeft, wife, and brave,
In body found, in spirit free,
If he poffefs what nature crave,

Is in truth as rich as he.

Fourthly, Fortify at home, and rely upon yourself: For a rational mind is born to the privilege of independence. Honefty, and the inward quiet confequent to it, is enough, in all confcience, to make you happy.

Fifthly, Don't be fond of any thing, or think that for your intereft which makes you break your word, quit your modefty, be of a diffembling, fufpicious, or outrageous humour; which puts you upon hating any person, and inclines you to any practice which won' bear the light, and look the world in the face.

S