The Cat, half famifh'd, lean and weak, 75 Demands the privilege to speak.

Well, Pufs, (fays Man) and what can you To benefit the public do?"

The Cat replies, "Thefe teeth, these claws, With vigilance shall serve the cause. The mouse, deftroy'd by my pursuit, No longer fhall your feafts pollute; Nor rats, from nightly ambuscade, With wasteful teeth your ftores invade.”

"I grant, fays Man, to general ufe

80

85

Your parts and talents may conduce;

For rats and mice purloin our grain,

And threshers whirl the flail in vain :
Thus fhall the Cat, a foe to fpoil,
Protect the farmer's honeft toil."

Then turning to the Dog, he cry'd,
"Well, Sir, be next your merits try'd."

"Sir, fays the Dog, by self-applause

We feem to own a friendless cause.
Afk those who know me, if distrust
E'er found me treacherous or unjust?
Did I e'er faith or friendship break?
Afk all those creatures; let them speak.
My vigilance and trusty zeal

Perhaps might ferve the public weal.
Might not your flocks in fafety feed,

Were I to guard the fleecy breed ?

Did I the nightly watches keep,

Could thieves invade you while you fleep?

90

95

100

The

The Man replies. "Tis juft and right; Rewards fuch fervice fhould requite.

So rare, in property, we find

Trust uncorrupt among mankind,
That, taken in a public view,
The firft diftinction is your due.
Such merits all reward tranfcend:

Be then comrade and my
my

Addreffing now the Fly:

friend."

From you

What public fervice can accrue ?"
From me! (the fluttering infect faid)

I thought you knew me better bred.
Sir, I'm a gentleman. Is 't fit

105

110

115

That I to industry submit ?

Let mean mechanics, to be fed,

By business earn ignoble bread;
Loft in excess of daily joys,

No thought, no care, my life annoys.
At noon (the lady's matin hour)

120

125

And drink the fragrance of the vine.
Studious of elegance and ease,

Myfelf alone I feek to please."

The Man his pert conceit derides, And thus the ufelefs coxcomb chides:

"Hence, from that peach, that downy feat;

No idle fool deferves to eat.

Could you have fapp'd the blufhing rind,

And on that pulp ambrofial din'd;

130

Had

Had not fome hand, with skill and toil,
To raise the tree, prepar'd the foil?
Confider, Sot, what would enfue,
Were all fuch worthlefs things as you.
You'd foon be forc'd (by hunger ftung)
To make your dirty meals on dung,
On which fuch despicable need,
Unpitied, is reduc'd to feed.

Befides, vain felfish Infect, learn,

(If you can right and wrong difcern)
That he who, with induftrious zeal,
Contributes to the public weal,
By adding to the common good,
His own hath rightly understood.”

So faying, with a sudden blow
He laid the noxious vagrant low.
Crufh'd in his luxury and pride,
The fpunger on the publick dy'd.

135

140

145

150

FABLE IX.

THE JACKALL, LEOPARD, AND OTHER BEASTS.

I

To a modern Politician.

GRANT corruption fways mankind;
That intereft, too, perverts the mind;
That bribes have blinded common fenfe,
Foil'd reafon, truth, and eloquence:
I grant you, too, our prefent crimes
Can equal thofe of former times.

5

Against