Whene'er the royal ear 's engroft,
State-lyes but little genius coft.
The favourite then fecurely robs,
And gleans a nation by his jobbs.
Franker and bolder grown in ill,
He daily poifons dares inftil;
And, as his prefent views fuggeft,
Inflames or fooths the royal breast.
Thus wicked minifters opprefs,
When oft' the monarch means redrefs.
Would kings their private fubjects hear,
A minifter muft talk with fear;
If honefty oppos'd his views,

He dar'd not innocence accufe;

'Twould keep him in fuch narrow bound,
He could not right and wrong confound.
Happy were kings, could they difclofe
Their real friends and real foes!
Were both themfelves and fubje&ts known,
A monarch's will might be his own.

Had he the ufe of ears and eyes,

Knaves would no more be counted wife.
But then a minifter might lofe

(Hard cafe 1) his own ambitious views.
When fuch as thefe have vex'd a flate,
Purfued by univerfal hate,
Their falfe fupport at once hath fail'd,
And perfevering truth prevail'd.
Expos'd, their train of fraud is feen;
Truth will at laft remove the screen.

A Country

A Country 'Squire, by whim directed,
The true stanch dogs of chace neglected.
Beneath his board no hound was fed :

His hand ne'er ftroak'd the spaniel's head.
A fnappifh Cur, alone carest,

By lyes had banish'd all the rest.
Yap had his ear; and defamation
Gave him full fcope of converfation.
His fycophants must be preferr'd;
Roomauft be made for all his herd:
Wherefore, to bring his fchemes about,
Old faithful fervants, all muft out.
The Cur on every creature flew
(As other great men's puppies do),
Unless due court to him were shown,
And both their face and bufinefs known:

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No honeft tongue an audience found;

He worried all the tenants round;

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For why? he liv'd in conftant fear,

Left truth by chance fhould interfere.
If any ftranger dar'd intrude,

The noify Cur his heels purfued.

Now fierce with age, now ftruck with dread, 135

At once he foarled, bit, and fled.

Aloof he bays, with briftling hair,

And thus in feciet growls his fear:

“Who knows but Truth, in this difguife, May fruftrate my beft guarded lyes?

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Should the (thus mak'd) admittance find,
That very hour my ruin 's fign'd."

Now

Now, in his howl's continued found,

Their words were loft, the voice was drown'd.
Ever in awe of honeft tongues,

Thus

every day he strain'd his lungs.

It happen'd, in ill-omen'd hour,
That Yap, unmindful of his power,
Forfook his poft, to love inclin'd;
A favourite bitch was in the wind.
By her feduc'd, in amorous play,
They frisk'd the joyous hours away.
Thus by untimely love pursuing,
Like Antony he fought his ruin.

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For now the 'Squire, unvex'd with noife, An honest neighbour's chat enjoys.

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Be free, fays he; your mind impart;
I love a friendly open heart.

Methinks my tenants fhun my gate;
Why fuch a stranger grown of late?
Pray tell me what offence they find :

'Tis plain they 're not fo well inclin'd."

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"Turn off your Cur (the Farmer cries) Who feeds your ear with daily lyes.

His fnarling infolence offends:

'Tis he that keeps you from your friends.
Were but that faucy puppy checkt,
You'd find again the fame refpect.
Hear only hin, he'll fwear it too,
That all our hatred is to you.
But learn from us your true eftate;
'Tis that curs'd Cur alone we hate."

L. 2

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170

The

The 'Squire heard Truth. Now Yap rush'd in; The wide hall echoes with his din;

Yet Truth prevail'd; and, with difgrace,

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The dog was cudgel'd out of place.

H

FABLE

VII.

THE COUNTRYMAN AND JUPITER.

To Myfelf.

AVE you a friend (look round and spy)
So fond, fo prepoffefs'd as I?

Your faults, fo obvious to mankind,

My partial eyes could never find.

When, by the breath of Fortune blown,
Your airy caftles were o'erthrown,
Have I been ever prone to blame,
Or mortify'd your hours with fhame?
Was I e'er known to damp your spirit,
Or twit you with the want of merit ?

'Tis not fo frange that Fortune's frown

Still perfeveres to keep you down.
Look round, and fee what others do.
Would you be rich and honeft too?
Have you (like thofe fhe rais'd to place)
Been opportunely mean and bafe?
Have you (as times requir'd) refign'd
Truth, honour, virtue, peace of mind?
If there are feruples, give her o'er;
Write, pra&ife morals, and be poor.

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10

15

20

The

The gifts of Fortune truly rate, Then tell me what would mend your If happiness on wealth were built,

ftate.

Rich rogues might comfort find in guilt.
As grows the miser's hoarded store,
His fears, his wants, increafe the more.

Think, Gay, (what ne'er may be the cafe)
Should Fortune take you into grace,
Would that your happiness augment?
What can fhe give beyond content?
Suppofe yourself a wealthy heir,
With a vaft annual income clear!
In all the affluence you poffefs,
You might not feel one care the lefs.

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30

Might you not then (like others) find

35

With change of fortune change of mind?

Perhaps, profufe beyond all rule,

You might start out a glaring fool;

Your luxury might break all bounds:
Plate, table, horfes, ftewards, hounds,
Might fwell
your debts: then, luft of play
No regal income can defray.

Sunk is all credit, writs affail,
And doom your future life to gaol.

Or, were you dignify'd with power,
Would that avert one penfive hour ?
You might give avarice its fwing,
Defraud a nation, blind a king:
Then, from the hirelings in your caufe
Though daily fed with falfe applaufe,

L 3

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Could