"Within these woods I reign alone; "The boundless foreft is my own. "Bears, wolves, and all the savage brood, 55 "Have dy'd the regal den with blood. "Thefe carcaffes on either hand, "Those bones that whiten all the land, "My former deeds and triumphs tell, "Beneath these jaws what numbers fell." 60 "True," fays the Man," the strength I faw Might well the brutal nation awe; "But shall a monarch, brave, like you, "Place glory in so false a view? "Robbers invade their neighbour's right. The virtue worthy of a throne. 66 The cafe is plain," the monarch faid; "Falfe glory hath my youth misled; For beafts of prey, a fervile train, Have been the flatterers of my reign. "You reason well. Yet tell me, friend, "Did ever you in courts attend? For all my fawning rogues agree, "That human heroes rule like me." 65 7༠ 75 80 VOL. XXXVII. D FABLE FABLE II. THE SPANIEL AND THE CAMELEON. A SPANIEL, bred with all the care That waits upon a favourite heir, The wind was fouth, the morning fair, "A fortune cannot fail thee there: "Preferments fhall thy talents crown; .. like you, "Believe me, Friend; I know the Town." * Like you, a courtier born and bred, 66 Kings lean'd their ear to what I faid. My whifper always met fuccefs; "The ladies prais'd me for addrefs. "I knew to hit each courtier's paffion, "And flatter'd every vice in fashion. But Jove, who hates the liar's ways, "At once cut fhort my profperous days, And, fentenc'd to retain my nature, << Transform'd me to this crawling creature. "Doom'd to a life obfcure and mean, "I wander in the fylvan fcene: For Jove the heart alone regards; "He punishes what man rewards. "How different is thy cafe and mine! "With men at least you fup and dine While I, condemn'd to thinnest fare, Like thofe I flatter'd, feed on air." ; 25 за 35 40 FABLE III. THE MOTHER, THE NURSE, AND THE FAIRY. GIVE me a fon. The bleffing sent, Were ever parents more content? How partial are their doting eyes! Wak'd to the morning's pleafing care, The mother rofe, and fought her heir. D 2 She She faw the Nurfe like one poffeft, Speak, Nurfe; I hope the boy is well." "Dear Madam, think not me to blame; Invisibly the Fairy came: Your precious babe is hence convey'd, "Lord! Madam, what a fquinting leer! No doubt the Fairy hath been here." Juft as the fpoke, a pigmy fprite "Whence sprung the vain conceited lye, you, we doat upon our own. Where yet was ever found a Mother 10 15 20 25 30 35 FABLE FABLE IV. THE EAGLE AND THE ASSEMBLY OF ANIMALS. As Jupiter's all-feeing eye Survey'd the worlds beneath the sky, The bird, obedient, from Heaven's height, Then cited every living thing, Ungrateful creatures! whence arife Thefe murmurs which offend the skies? To yon' four Dog I first appeal." "Hard is my lot, the Hound replies; On what fleet nerves the Greyhound flies! While I, with weary step and flow, O'er plains, and vales, and mountains, go. D 3 10 15 20 "When |