But yet with patience you fhall view As much as paint and art can do.” Obferve the work. My Lord replied, "Oh! pardon me, the artist cry'd; In this we Painters must decide. The piece ev'n common eyes must ftrike, My Lord examin'd it a-new; 45 50 55 60 Would any man the picture own? But, when thus hapily he wrought, FABLE XIX. THE LION AND THE CUB. OW fond are men of rule and place, HOW Whe court it from the mean and base! These These cannot bear an equal nigh, And lofe their hours in ale and smoke. Nay, ev❜n with fools whole nights will fit, If thefe can read, to these I write, A Lion-cub, of sordid mind, Fond of applause he fought the feafts With affes all his time he spent, Their club's perpetual prefident. He caught their manners, looks, and airs; If e'er his Highness meant a joke, They grinn'd applause before he spoke ; Elate with flattery and conceit, 66 Puppy! that curs'd vociferation Betrays thy life and converfation: ૐ ..10 3 15 20 25 30 Coxcombs, an ever-noify race, Are trumpets of their own difgrace." Why Our fenate always held me wife." Why fo fevere? the Cub replies; "How weak is pride! returns the fire: 35 FABLE XX. THE OLD HEN AND THE COCK. ESTRAIN RE your child; you 'Il foon believe The text which fays we fprung from Eve. As an old Hen led forth her train, And feem'd to peck to fhow the grain, She rak'd the chaff, fhe fcratch'd the ground, 5 And glean'd the spacious yard around. A giddy chick, to try her wings, On the well's narrow margin springs, And prone she drops. The mother's breast All day with forrow was pofleft. A Cock the met; her fon fhe knew; And in her heart affection grew. 66 My fon, says she, I grant your years 10 Print this my counsel on thy breaft: To the just gods I leave the reft." His bofom burn'd to disobey, And every time the well he faw, Near and more near each day he drew, Why was this idle charge? he cries; younger race? And would the thus my fearch prevent? 25 30 35 I ftand refolv'd, and dare th' event." Thus faid, he mounts the margin's round, And pries into the depth profound. He stretch'd his neck; and from below "I ne'er had been in this condition, But for my Mother's prohibition." 40 45 FABLE [67] FABLE XXI. THE RAT-CATCHER AND CATS. THE rats by night fuch mifchief did, They undermin'd whole fides of bacon, Her cheese was fapp'd, her tarts were taken; An Engineer, of noted skill, From room to room he now furveys. Their haunts, their works, their secret ways; Again he fets the poifon'd toils; "What foe. (to fruftrate my defigns) 5 10 15 20 My schemes thus nightly countermines ? 25 The wretch shall bleed beneath my power." |