A book his curious eye detains,
Where, with exactest care and pains,
Were every beaft and bird pourtray'd,
That e'er the fearch of man furvey'd;
Their natures and their powers were writ
With all the pride of human wit:
The page he with attention spread,
And thus remark'd on what he read :
"Man with ftrong reafon is endow'd;
A beast scarce inftinct is allow'd:
But, let this author's worth be try'd,
"Tis plain that neither was his guide.
Can he difcern the different natures,
And weigh the power of other creatures,
Who by the partial work hath shewn
He knows fo little of his own?
How falfely is the Spaniel drawn!
Did man from him first learn to fawn?
A Dog proficient in the trade!
He the chief flatterer Nature made!
Go, Man! the ways of courts difcern,
You'll find a Spaniel ftill might learn.
How can the Fox's theft and plunder
Provoke his censure or his wonder?
From Courtiers' tricks and Lawyers' arts,
The Fox might well improve his parts.
The Lion, Wolf, and Tiger's brood,
He curfes, for their thirst of blood.
But is not Man to Man a prey?
Beafts kill for hunger, Men for pay,"
The Bookfeller, who heard him fpeak,
And saw him turn a page of Greek,
Thought, what a genius have I found!
Then thus addrefs'd with bow profound:
"Learn'd Sir, if you 'd employ your pen
Against the fenfeless fons of men,
Or write the hiftory of Siam;
No man is better pay than I am.
Or, fince you're learn'd in Greek, let's fee 65
Something against the Trinity."
When wrinkling with a fneer his trunk,
"Friend, quoth the Elephant, you 're drunk:
E'en keep your money, and be wife;
Leave man on man to criticife:
For that you ne'er can want a pen
Among the fenfeless sons of men.
They unprovok'd will court the fray;
Envy 's a fharper spur than pay.
No author ever spar'd a brother;
Wits are gamecocks to one another."
THE PEACOCK, THE TURKEY, AND THE GOOSE.
N beauty faults confpicuous grow;
The smallest speck is feen on fnow.
As near a barn, by hunger led,
A peacock with the poultry fed,
All view'd him with an envious eye,
And mock'd his gaudy pageantry.
He, conscious of fuperior merit,
Contemns their bafe reviling spirit ;
His ftate and dignity affumes,
And to the fun difplays his plumes,
Which, like the Heavens' o'er-arching skies,
Are fpangled with a thousand eyes.
The circling rays, and varied light,
At once confound their dazzled fight;
On every tongue detraction burns,
And malice prompts their spleen by turns.
"Mark with what infolence and pride
The creature takes his haughty stride,
The Turkey cries. Can fpleen contain?
Sure never bird was half fo vain!
But, were intrinsic merit seen,
We Turkeys have the whiter skin.”
From tongue to tongue they caught abuse;
And next was heard the hiffing goofe:
"What hideous legs! what filthy claws!
I fcorn to cenfure little flaws.
Then what a horrid fqualling throat!
Ev'n owls are frighted at the note.
"True. Those are faults, the Peacock cries;
My fcream, my fhanks, you may despise;
But fuch blind critics rail in vain.
What! overlook my radiant train !
Know, did my legs (your fcorn and fport)
The Turkey or the Goose fupport,
And did ye fcream with harsher found,
Thofe faults in you had ne'er been found:
To all apparent beauties blind,
Each blemish strikes an envious mind.
Thus in affemblies have I seen
A nymph of brighteft charms and mien
Wake envy in each ugly face,
And buzzing fcandal fills the place.
CUPID, HYMEN, AND PLUTUS.
S Cupid in Cythera's grove
Employ'd the leffer powers of Love,
Some shape the bow, or fit the ftring,
Some give the taper shaft its wing,
Or turn the polish'd quiver's mould,
Or head the darts with temper'd gold.
Amidft their toil and various care,
Thus Hymen, with affuming air,
Addrefs'd the God: "Thou purblind chit,
Of aukward and ill-judging wit,
If matches are not better made,
At once I muft forfwear my trade.
You send me fuch ill-coupled folks,
That 'tis a fhame to fell them yokes.
They fquabble for a pin, a feather,
And wonder how they came together.
The hufband's fullen, dogged, fhy,
The wife grows flippant in reply:
He loves command and due restriction;
And fhe as well likes contradiction:
She never flavishly submits;
She 'll have her will, or have her fits.
He this way tugs, she th' other draws;
The man grows jealous, and with cause.
Nothing can fave him but divorce;
And here the wife complies of course.”
"When, fays the boy, had I to do
With either affairs or you?
your
I never idly spend my darts;
You trade in mercenary hearts.
For fettlements the lawyer 's fee'd;
Is my
hand witness to the deed?
If they like cat and dog agree,
Go rail at Plutus, not at me."
Plutus appear'd, and faid, “Tis true,
In marriage, gold is all their view;
They seek not beauty, wit, or sense,
And love is feldom the pretence.
All offer incenfe at my shrine,
And I alone the bargain fign.
How can Belinda blame her fate?
She only afk'd a great estate.
Doris was rich enough, 'tis true;
Her lord must give her title too :
And every man, or rich or poor,
A fortune asks, and afks no more."
Avarice, whatever shape it bears,
Muft ftill be coupled with its cares.
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