By thefe defpoticly they fway'd,
And flaves extoll'd the hand that pay'd;
Nor parts nor genius were employ'd,
By thefe alone were realms deftroy'd.
Now fee thefe wretches in difgrace,
Stript of their treasures, power, and place;
View them abandon'd and forlorn,
Expos'd to fuch reproach and scorn.

What now is all your pride, your boast?
Where are your flaves, your flattering hoft?
What tongues now feed you
with applause?

Where are the champions of your caufe?
Now ev'n that very fawning train,

Which fhar'd the gleanings of your gain,
Prefs foremoft who fhall first accufe
Your selfish jobbs, your paltry views,
Your narrow schemes, your breach of trust,
And want of talents to be juft.

What fools were thefe amidst their power!

How thoughtlefs of their adverse hour!

What friends were made? A hireling herd,

For temporary votes preferr'd.

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Was it thefe fycophants to get,

Your bounty fwell'd a nation's debt?

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You're bit for thefe, like Swifs, attend;

transferr❜d;

Yet to Jackalls (as 'tis averr'd)
Some Lions have their power
As if the parts of pimps and fpies
To govern forefts could fuffice.

Once, ftudious of his private good,
A proud Jackall opprefs'd the wood;
To cram his own infatiate jaws,
Invaded property and laws.

The foreft groans with discontent,
Fresh wrongs the general hate foment.
The spreading murmurs reach'd his ear;
His fecret hours were vex'd with fear.
Night after night he weighs the case,
And feels the terrors of disgrace.

By friends (fays he) I'll guard my feat,

By thofe malicious tongues defeat ;

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Se

I'll strengthen power by new allies,
And all my clamorous foes defpife."

To make the generous beafts his friends,

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He cringes, fawns, and condefcends;
But thofe repuls'd his abject court,
And fcorn'd oppreffion to fupport.

Friends must be had. He can't fubfift.

Bribes fhall new profelytes inlift:

But thefe nought weigh'd in honeft paws;

For bribes confess a wicked cause :

Yet think not every paw withstands
What hath prevail'd in human hands.
A tempting turnip's filver skin

Drew a base Hog through thick and thin:

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Bought

Bought with a Stag's delicious haunch,
The mercenary Wolf was ftanch:

The convert Fox grew warm and hearty,
A pullet gain'd him to the party :
The golden-pippin in his fift,

A chattering Monkey join'd the lift.
But foon, expos'd to public hate,
The favourite's fall redrefs'd the state.
The Leopard, vindicating right,

Had brought his fecret frauds to light.
As rats, before the manfion falls,
Defert late hofpitable walls,

In fhoals the fervile creatures run,

To bow before the rifing fun.

The Hog with warmth express'd 'his zeal,
And was for hanging those that steal;
But hop'd, though low, the public hoard
Might half a turnip ftill afford.

Since faving measures were profeft,
A lamb's head was the Wolf's request.
The Fox fubmitted, if to touch

A gofling would be deem'd too much.
The Monkey thought his grin and chatter
Might ask a nut, or fome fuch matter.
"Ye Hirelings! hence! (the Leopard cries)
Your venal confcience I despise.

He, who the public good intends,
By bribes needs never purchase friends.
Who acts this juft, this open part,
Is propt by every honest heart.

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Corruption

Corruption now too late has fhow'd,
That bribes are always ill-beftow'd ;
By you your bubbled master 's taught,
Time-ferving tools, not friends, are bought." 13

FABLE X.

THE DEGENERATE BEES.

To the Rev. Dr. Swift, Dean of St. Patrick's.

THOUGH courts the practice difallow,

A friend at all times I'll avow.

In politics I know 'tis

wrong;

A friendship may be kept too long;
And what they call the prudent part,
Is to wear intereft next the heart.

As the times take a different face,
Old friendships fhould to new give place.
I know, too, you have many foes,
That owning you is sharing those;
· That every knave in every station,
Of high and low denomination,

For what you speak, and what you write,
Dread you at once, and bear you spite.
Such freedoms in your works are shown,
They can't enjoy what's not their own.
All dunces, too, in church and state,
In frothy nonfenfe fhew their hate ;
M 2

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15

With

With all the petty fcribbling crew
(And thofe pert fots are not a few),

'Gainft you and Pope their

envy fpurt. The bookfellers alone are hurt.

Good Gods! by what a powerful race
(For blockheads may have power and place)
Are fcandals rais'd, and libels writ,
To prove your honesty and wit!

Think with yourself: thofe worthy men,
You know, have fuffer'd by your pen.

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From them you've nothing but your due.

From hence, 'tis plain, your friends are few.

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Except myfelf, I know of none,

Befides the wife and good alone.
To fet the cafe in fairer light,
My Fable fhall the rest recite,

Which (though unlike our present state)

I for the moral's fake relate.

A Bee of cunning, not of parts,
Luxurious, negligent of arts,
Rapacious, arrogant, and vain,
Greedy of power, but more of gain,
Corruption fow'd throughout the hive:
By petty rogues the great ones thrive.

As power and wealth his views fupply'd,

'Twas feen in overbearing pride.

With him loud impudence had merit
The Bee of confcience wanted fpirit;
And thofe who follow'd honour's rules
Were laugh'd to fcorn for fqueamish fools.

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Wealth