Informers, sycophants, and spies,
Would not augment the year's supplies.
Perhaps, too, take away this prop,
An annual job or two might drop.
Besides, if pensions were deny'd,
Could Avarice support its pride?
It might ev'n ministers confound,
And yet the state be safe and sound.
I care not tho' 'tis understood;
I only mean my country's good:
And (let who will my freedom blame)
I wish all courtiers did the same.
Nay, tho' some folks the less might get,
I wish the nation out of debt.
I put no private man's ambition
With public good in competition:
Rather than have our laws defac'd,
I'd vote a minister disgrac'd.
I strike at vice, be 't where it will;
And what if great folks take it ill?
I hope corruption, brib'ry, pension,
One may with detestation mention;
Think you the law (let who will take it).
Can scandalum magnatum make it?
I vent no slander, owe no grudge,
Nor of another's conscience judge:
At him or him I take no aim,
Yet dare against all vice declaim.
Shall I not censure breach of trust,
Because knaves know themselves unjust?
That steward whose account is clear,
Demands his hopour may appear:
His actions never shun the light;
He is, and would be prov'd upright.
But then you think my Fable bears
Allusion too to state affairs.
I grant it does: and who's so great,
That has the privilege to cheat?
If then in any future reign
(For ministers may thirst for gain)
Corrupted hands defraud the nation,
I bar no reader's application.
An Ant there was whose forward prate
Controll'd all matters in debate;
Whether he knew the thing or no,
His tongue eternally would go;
For he had impudence at will,
And boasted universal skill.
Ambition was his point in view:
Thus by degrees to pow'r he grew.
Behold him now his drift attain:
He's made chief treas'rer of the grain.
But as their ancient laws are just,
And punish breach of public trust,
'Tis order'd (lest wrong application
Should starve that wise industrious nation)
That all accounts be stated clear,
Their stock, and what defray'd the year;
That auditors shall these inspect,
And public rapine thus be check'd.
For this the solemn day was set;
The auditors in council met.
The gran'ry keeper must explain,
And balance his account of grain.
He brought (since he could not refuse 'em)
Some scraps of paper to amuse 'em)
An honest Pismire, warin with zeal,
In justice to the public weal,
Thus spoke: The nation's hoard is low;
From whence does this profusion flow?
I know our annual funds' amount;
Why such expence? and where's th' account?
With wonted arrogance and pride,
The Ant in office thus reply'd:
Consider, Sirs, were secrets told,
How could the best-schem'd projects hold?
Should we state-mysteries disclose,
'Twould lay us open to our fees.
My duty and my well-known zeal
Bid me our present schemes conceal:
But, on my honour, all th' expence
(Tho' vast) was for the swarm's defence.
They pass'd th' account as fair and just,
And voted him implicit trust.
Next year again the gran'ry drain'd,
He thus his innocence maintain'd;
Think how our present matters stand,
What dangers threat from ev'ry hand;
What hosts of turkeys stroll for food,
No farmer's wife but hath her brood.
Consider, when invasion's near,
Intelligence must cost us dear;
And, in this ticklish situation,
A secret told betrays the nation:
But, on my honour, all th' expence
(Tho' vast) was for the swarm's defence.
Again, without examination,
They thank'd his sage administration.
The year revolves. Their treasure spent, Again in secret service went.
His honour, too, again was pledg'd,
To satisfy the charge alleg'd.
When thus with panic shame possess'd,
An auditor his friends address'd :
What are we? ministerial tools?
We little knaves are greater fools.
At last this secret is explor'd,
'Tis our corruption thins the hoard.
For ev'ry grain we touch'd, at least
A thousand his own heaps increas'd.
Then for his kin and fav'rite spies
A hundred hardly could suffice,
Thus for a paltry sneaking bribe
We cheat ourselves and all the tribe;
For all the magazine contains
Grows from our annual toil and pains.
They vote th' account shall be inspected;
The cunning plund'rer is detected;
The fraud is sentenc'd; and his hoard,
As due, to public use restor'd.
FABLE V.
THE BEAR IN A BOAT.
THAT man must daily wiser grow,
Whose search is bent himself to know;
Impartially he weighs his scope,
And on firm reason founds his hope;
He tries his strength before the race,
And never seeks his own disgrace;
He knows the compass, sail, and oar,
Or never launches from the shore;
Before he builds computes the cost,
And in no proud pursuit is lost:
He learns the bounds of human sense,
And safely walks within the fence.
Thus, conscious of his own defect,
Are pride and self-importance check'd,
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