The Folly of paffing a hafty and derogatory Judgment upon the noxious Animals of the Creation.
LL wife philofophers maintain
Nature created nought in vain.
Yet fome with fupercilious brow,
Deny the truth afferted now.
What if I fhew that only man,
Appears defective in the plan!
Say, will the sceptic lay afide
His fneers, his arrogance, and pride?
A Beau, imported fresh from France,
Whose study was to dress and dance;
Who had betimes, in Gallia's fchool,
Grafted the coxcomb on the fool;
Approach'd a wood one fummer's day,
To screen him from the scorching ray.
And as he travers'd thro' the grove,
Scheming of gallantry and love,
A Viper's fpiry folds were feen,
Sparkling with azure, gold, and green;
The Beau indignant, weak, and proud,
With transport thus exclaim'd aloud:-
Avaunt, detefted fiend of night!
Thou torture to the human fight!
To every reptile a difgrace,
And fatal to our god-like race.
Why were fuch creatures form'd as you,
Unless to prove my doctrine true;
That when we view this nether sphere,
Nor wisdom nor design appear?
The Serpent rais'd his angry creft,
An honeft zeal inflam'd his breaft.
His hiffings ftruck the fopling's ear,
And fhook his very foul with fear.
Inglorious wretch! the Viper cries,
How dare you broach infernal lies?
Is there, in all creation's chain,
A link fo worthlefs and fo vain?
Grant that your drefs were truly thine,
How can your gold compare with mine?
Your veftments are of garter hue,
Mine boast a far fuperior blue.
You ftyle me Reptile in contempt,
You are that very reptile meant;
A two-legg'd thing which crawls on earth,
Void of utility and worth.
You call me fatal to your race---
Was ever charge fo falfe and bafe?
You can't in all your annals find,
That unprovok'd we hurt mankind.
Uninjur❜d men in mifchief deal,
We only bite the hostile heel.
Do not we yield our lives to feed,
And fave your vile diftemper'd breed?
When leprofy pollutes your veins,
Do not we purge the loathfome ftains?
When riot and excefs prevail,
And health, and ftrength, and fpirits fail;
Doctors from us their aid derive,
Hence penitential rakes revive.
We bleed to make the caitiffs dine, *
Or drown to medicate their wine.
*Upon fome occafions Vipers are dreffed, and ferved to
You afk, my poison to what end? Minute philofopher, attend.
Nature, munificent and wife,
To all our wants adapts fupplies.
Our frames are fitted to our need,
Hence greyhounds are endu'd with speed.
Lions by force their prey fubdue,
By force maintain their empire too:
But power, altho' the lion's fame,
Was never known the Viper's claim.
Obferve, when I unroll my length—
Say, is my structure form'd for ftrength?
Doth not celerity imply
Or legs to run, or wings to fly?
My jaws are constituted weak,
Hence poifon lurks behind my cheek.
As lightning quick my fangs convey
This liquid to my wounded prey.
The venom thus infures my bite,
For wounds preclude the victim's flight.
But why this deadly juice, you cry,
To make the wretched captive die?
Why not poffefs'd of stronger jaws,
Or arm'd like favage brutes with claws?
Can fuch weak arguments perfuade?
Afk rather, why were Vipers made?
To me my poison's more than wealth,
And to ungrateful mortals health.
In this benevolent defign
My various organs all combine.
Strike out the poifon from my frame,
My system were no more the fame.
I then should want my comforts due,
Nay, lofe my very being too.
And you'd, as doctors all agree,
A fovereign medicine lofe in me.
Now learn, 'tis arrogance in man,
To cenfure what he cannot fcan.
Nor dare to charge God's works with ill,
Since Vipers kind defigns fulfil:
But give injurious fcruples o'er,
Be ftill, be humble, and adore.
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