Hafty and hot; whose peevith honour
Reveng'd each light was put upon her,

FABLE III,
Upon a mountain's top one day
Expos’d to Sol's meridian ray;

The Ant and the Fly.
He fum'd, he rav'd, he curs’d, he swore,
Exhal'd a sea at every pore:

Quem res plus nimio delectavêre fecunde, At lait, foch insults to evade,

“ Muratæ quatient."

HOR Sought the next tree's protecling thade ; Where, as he lay dillolv'd in sweat,

The careful ant that meanly fares, And wip'd off many a rivulet,

And labours hardly to fupply, Off in a per the beaver flies,

With wholesome cates and homely tares, And faxen wig, time's best disguise,

His numerous working family; By which, folks of matarer ages

Upon a visit met one day Vie with smooth beaux, and ladies pages:

His coulin fly, in all his pride, Though 'twas a secret rarely known,

A courtier infolent and gay, Ill-natur'd age had cropt his crown,

By Coody Maggot near ally'd : Grubb’d all the covert up, and now

The humble insect humbly bow'd, A large (mooth plain extends his brow.

And all his lowest congees paid, Thus as he lay with nuinkul bare;

Of an alliance wondrous proud And courted the refreshing air,

To such a huffing tearing blade. New persecutions ftill aşpear,

The haughty fly look'd big, and swore
A noisy fly offends his ear.

He knew him not, nor whence he came
Alas : what man of parts and sense
Could bear such vile impertinence ?

Huff'd much, and with impatie ce bore

The scandal of so mean a claim.
Yet so discourteous is our fate,
Fools always buz about the great.

Friend Clodpate, know, 'tis not the mode
This infed now, whofe active spight;

At court, to own such clowos as thee, Teaz'd him with never-ceafıng bite,

Nor is it civil to intrude With so much judgment play'd his part,

On flies of rank and quality. He had him both in ticrce and quart :

I-who, in joy and indolence, In vain with open hands he tries

Converse with monarchs and grandees, To guard his ears, his nose, his eyes;

Rogaling every nicer sense For now at lalt, familiar grown,

With olios, soups, and fricaisees; Ho perch'd upon his worlhip’s crown,

Who kiss each beauty's balmy lip, With teeth and claws his skin he tore,

Or gently buz into her ear, And ftuff'd himself with human gore.

About her snowy bofom skip, At lalt, in manners to excel,

And sometiines creep the Lord knows where! Untrass'd a point, fome authors tell. But now what thetoric could assuage

The ant, who could no longer bear

His cousin's infolence and pride, l'he furious 'squire, ftark mad with rage? Impatient at the foul disgrace,

Tols'd up his head, and with an air From insect of so mean a race;

Of conscious worth, he thus reply'd : And plotting vengeance on his foe,

Vain infe&t! know, the cine will come, With double fist he aims a blow :

When the court-fun no more shall thice, The nimble fly escap'd by flight,

When fross thy gaudy limbs benumb, And skip'd from this unequal fight.

And damps about thy wings thall cwine ; Th' impending stroke with all its weight

When some dark nasty hole fhall hide Fell on his own beloved pate.

And cover thy neglected head, daus much he gain’d by this adventurous deed,

When all this lofty swelling pride lle foul’d his fingers, and he broke his head.

Shail burst, and thrink into a fhade :

Take heed, left fortune change the scene : Let senates hence learn to preferve their state, Some of thy bicchren I reincmber,

7 mid scorn the tool, below their grave debate, In June have mighty princcs been, Who by th' unequal frife grows popular and But begg'd their bread before Decenber.

great.
Let him buz on, with senseless rant defy
The wise, the good; yet still ’tis bue a fly. This precious offspring of a t-d
With puny foes the coil 's not worth the coft, Is tirft a pinp, and :sen a lord;

Anbitious to be great, not good,
Where nothing can be gain'd, much may be loft :
Les cranes and pigmies in muck-war engage, Forgets his own dear flesh and blood.
A prey beneath the generous eagle's rage.

Blir d goddess ! who delight'st in joke,
True honour o'er the clouds fublimely wings; () fix him on thy lowett fpoke;
Young Ammon fcorns to run with lots than And since the scoundrel is so vain,
kings.

Reduce him so his filth again.

MORAL

MORAL.

MORAL.
FABLE IV.

Parties enrag'd on one another fall,
The Wolf, tbe Fox, and the Ape.

The butcher and the bear-ward pocket all.
Clodius accusat Mæchos, Catilina Cethegum.”

FABLE VI.
Juv.

The Wounded Man, and the Swarm of Flies, The wolf impeach'd the fox of theft;

“E malis minimum." The fox the charge deny'd; To the grave ape the case was left,

SQUALID with wounds, and many a gaping fore, In justice to decide.

A wretched Lazar lay distress'd; Wise Pug with comely buttocks fate,

A swarm of flies his bleeding ulcers tore, And nodded o'er the laws,

And on his putrid carcase feast. Distinguish'd well through the debate,

A courteous traveller, who pass'd that way, And thus adjudg'd the cause :

And saw the vile Harpeian brood, The goods are stole, but not from thee,

Offer'd his help the monstrous crew to slay, Two pickled rogues well met,

That rioted on human blood. Thou shalt be hang'd for perjury,

Ah! gentle fir, th' unhappy wretch reply'd, He for an arrant cheat.

Your well-meant charity refrain;
MORAL.

The angry gods have that redress deny’d,
Hang both, judicious brute, 'twas bravely said,

Your goodness would increase my pain. May villains always to their ruin plead!

Fat, and full-fed, and with abundance cloy'd, When knaves fall out, and spitefully accuse,

But now and then these tyrants feed; There's nothing like the reconciling noose. But were, alas! this pamper'd brood defroy'd, O hemp! the noblest gift propitious heaven

The lean and hungry would succeed. To mortals with a bounteous hand has given,

MORAL. To stop malicious breath, to end debate,

The body politic must foon decay, To prop the shaking throne, and purge the state.

When swarms of insects on its vitals prey;

When blood-fuckers of state, a greedy brood, FABLE V.

Pealt on our wounds, and facten with our blood. The Dog and the Bear.

What must we do in this severe diftress?

Come, doctor, give the patient some redress : " -Delirant reges, ple&untur Achivi,

The quacks in politics a change advise, “ Seditione, dolis, scelere, atque libidine et ira But cooler counsels should dire& the wise. “ Iliacos intra muros, peccatur, et extra.” 'Tis hard, indeed; but better this, than worse;

HOR. Mistaken blessings prove the greatest curse.

Alas! what would our bleeding country gain, Towser, of right Hockleian fire,

If, when this viperous brood at laft is lain, A dog of mettle and of fire,

The teeming Hydra pullulates again ; With Urfin grin, an errant bear,

Seizes the prey with more voracious bite,
Maintain'd a long and dubious war :

To satisfy his hungry appetite ?
Oft Ursin on his back was tost,
And Towser many a collop loft;

FABLE VII.
Capricious fortune would declare,
Now for the dog, then for the bear.

The Wolf and the Dog.
Thus having try'd their courage fairly,
Brave Urlin first desir'd a parly;

“ Hunc ego per Syrtes, Libyæque extrema tri

՝ ս umphum Stout combatant (quoth he) whose might

“ Ducere nialuerim, quam ter capitolia curru I've felt in many a bloody fight,

“ Scandere Pompeii, quam frangere colla Jugure Tell me the cause of all this pother,

4 thg.”

Luc.
And why we worry one another?
That's a moot point, the cur reply'd,

A PROWLINC wolf that scour'd the plains,
Our masters only can decide.

To ease his hunger's griping pains; While thee and I our hcarts blood spill,

Ragged as courtier in disgrace, They prudently their pockets fill;

Hide-bound, and lean, and out of case; Halloo us on with all their might,

By chance a well-fed dog efpy'd, To turn a penny by the fight.

And being kin, and near ally'd, If that's the cafe, return'd the bear,

He civilly saiuces the cur, 'Tis time at last to end the war;

How do you, cuz? Your servant, Gir! Thou keep thy teeth, and I my claws,

O happy friend ! how gay thy mien ! To combat in a nobler cause ;

How plump thy lides, how sleek thy kin! Sleep in a whole skin, I advise,

Triumphant plenty shines all o’er, And let them bleed, who gain the prize.

And the fat melts at every pore!

MORAL

While I, alas ! 'decay'd and old,

Adions on actions hence succeed, With hunger pin'd, and stiff with cold,

Each hero's obstinately stout, With many a howl, and hideous groan,

Green bags and parchments fly about,
Tell the relentless woods my moan.

Pleadings are drawn, and counsel fee'd.
Pr'ythee, my happy friend ! impart
Thy wond'rous, cunning, thriving art.

The parson of the place, good man!

Whose kind and charitable heart Why, faith, I'll tell thee as a friend,

In human ills still bore a part,
But first thy surly manners mend;

Thrice shook his head, and thus began:
Be complaisant, obliging, kind,
And leave the wolf for once behind.

Neighbours and friends, refer to me
The wolf, whose mouth began to water,

This doughty matter in dispute, With joy and rapture gallop'd after,

I'll foon decide th' important suit, When thus the dog : At bed and board,

And finish all without a fee. I hare the plenty of my lord;

Give me the oyster then--'is wellFrom every gueit I claim a fee,

He opens it, and at one sup Who court my lord by bribing me:

Gulps the contested trifle up,
In mirth I revel all the day,

And, smiling, gives to each a Thell.
And many a game at romps I play:
I fetch and carry, leap o'er sticks,

Henceforth let foolish discord cease,
And twenty such diverting tricks.

Your oyster's good as e'er was eat; 'Tis pretty, faith, the wolf reply'd,

I thank you for my dainty treat,
And on his neck the collar spy'd :

God bless you both, and live in peace.
He starts, and without more ado
He bids the abjed wretch adieu :

Ye men of Norfolk and of Wales,
Enjoy your dainties, friend; to me

From this learn common sense; The noblest feast is liberty.

Nor thrust your neighbours into goals The familh'd wolf upon these desart plains,

For every light offence.
Is happier than a fawning cur in chains.

Banish those vermin of debate,
MORAL.
Thus bravely spoke the nurse of ancient Rome,

That on your substance feed;

The knaves, who now are serv'd in plate;
Thus the starv'd Swiss, and hungry Grisons roam,
On barren hills, clad with eternal snow,

Would starve, if fools agreed.
And look with scorn on the prim flaves below.

FABLE IX.
Thus Caco 'scap'd by death the tyrant's chains,
And walks unshackled in th’Elysian plains.

The Sheep and the Busb.
Thus, Britons, thus your great forefathers stood
For liberty, and fought in seas of blood.

“ Lætus forte tuâ vives sapienter." Hori To barren rocks, and gloomy woods confin'd,

A SHEEP, well-meaning brute ! one morn Their virtues by neceility refin'd,

Retir'd beneath a spreading thorn,
Nor cold, nor want, nor death, could shake their

A pealing storm to fhun;
Ateady mind.

Escap'd indeed both rain and wind,
No saucy Druid then durst cry aloud,

But left, alas: his fleece behind :
And with his flavish cant debauch the crowd:

Was it not wisely done?
No passive legions in a scoundrel's cause
Pillage a city, and affront the laws.
The state was quiet, happy, and serene,

Beneath the blast while pliant osiers bend,
For Boadicea was the Briton's queen;

The stubborn oak each furious wind shall rend; Her subjects their just liberties maintain'd,

Discreetly yield, and patiently endure, And in her people's hearts the happy monarch Such common evils as admit no cure. reign'd.

These fate ordains, and Heaven's high will hath

fent :
FABLE VIII.

In humble littleness submit content.
The Oxfler.

But thole thy folly brings, in time prevent,

FABLE X. ". Acres procurrunt, magnum spectaculum úter“ que.” Hor.

The Frog's Choice. Two comrades, as grave authors say,

"Ω ποποι, οιον δη νυ Θεας βρολοι απιοαναι. (But in what chapter, page, or line,

Εξ ημεων γαρ φασι κακ' εμιιεναι οι δε και αυτο Ye critics, if ye please, define) Had found an oyster in their way.

Σφησιν ατασθαλιησιν υπέρ μορον αλγι εχετιν: , Contest and foul debate arose,

In a wild state of nature, long Both view'd at once with greedy eyes,

The frogs at random liv'd, Both challeng'd the delicious prize,

The weak a prey unto the strong, And high words coon improv'd to blows,

With anarchy oppress'd and griev'd.

MORAL.

In jus

MORAL.

At length the lawless rout,

In short, 'twas all for public weal, Taught by their sufferings, grew devout :

He swallow'd half a nation at a meal. An embassy to Jove they fent,

Again they beg Almighty Jove, And begg'd his higboels would bestow

This cruel tyrant to remove. Sonie fettled form of government,

With fierce resentment in his eyes, A king to rule the fens below.

The frowning thunderer replies; Jove, smiling, grants their odd request,

Those evils which yourselves create, Aking th’indulgent power bestow'd,

Rash fools ! ye now repent too late; (Such as might suit their genius belt)

Made wretched by the public voice, A beam of a prodigious size,

Not through necessity, but choice ! (curse, With all its cumberous load,

Be gi ne!-Nor wrest from heaven some heavier Came tumbling from the skies.

Better bear this, this stork, than worse.

7 The waters dath against the shore, The hollow caverns roar;

Oppress'd with happiness, and sick with ease, The rocks return the dreadful sound;

Not heaven itself our fickle minds can please. Convulsions shake the ground.

Fondly we wish, cloy'd with celestial fiore, The multitude with horror ficd,

The leeks and onions which we loath'd before: And in his oozy bed

Still roving, still defiring, never pleas'd, Each skulking coward hid his head.

With plenty farv'd, and ev'n with health discas'd. When all' is now grown calm again,

With partial eyes each present good we view,

Nor covet what is best, but what is new.
And smoothly glides the liquid plain,
A frog more refolute and bold,

Ye powers above, who make mankind your care,

To bless the supplicant, reject his prayer!
Peeping with caution from his hold;
Recover'd from his first surprise,

FABLE XI.
As o'er the wave his head he popt,
He saw---but scarce believ'd his eyes,

Liberty and Love; or, the two Sparrows. On the same bank where first he dropt,

Dos eft uxoria, lites." OVID. Th' imperial lubber lies, Stretch'd at his ease, careless, content :

A SPARROW and his mate, Is this the monarch Jove has sent,

(Believe me, gentle Kare) (Said he) our warlike troops to lead ?

Once lov'd like I and you; Ay! 'tis a glorious prince indeed!

With mutual ardour join'd, By such an active general led,

No turtles e'er so kind,
The routed mice our arms shall dread,

Su constant, and so true.
Subdued shall quit their claim:

They hopp'd from spray to spray,
Old Homer shall recant his lays,

They bill'd, they chirp'd all day,
For us new trophies raise,

They cuddled close all night;
Sing our victorious arms, and justify our fame, To bliss they wak'd each morn,
Then laughing impudently loud,

In every buíh and thorn, He soon alarm'd the daftard crowd.

Gay scenes of new delight. The croaking nations with contempt

At length the fowler came, Behold the worthless indolent,

(The knave was much to blame) On wings of winds, Twist scandal flies,

And this dear pair trapann'd;
Libels, lampoons, and lies,

Both in one cage confin'd,
Hoarse treasons, tunelefs blasphemies.

Why, faith and troth, 'twas kind; With active leap at last upon his back they stride,

Nay, hold that must be scann'd. And on the royal loggerhead in triumph ride.

Fair liberty thus gone, Once more to Jove their prayers addrest,

And one coop'd up with one, And once more Jove grants their request :

'Twas awkward, new, and strange ; A stork he sends of monstrous size,

For better and for worse, Red lightning flashing in his eyes;

O dismal, fatal curse!
Ruld by no block, as heretofore,

No more abroad to range.
The gazing crowds press'd to his court;
Admire his stately mien, his haughty port,

No carols now they fing,
And only not adore.

Each droops his little wing,

And mourns his cruel fate :
Addresses of congratulation,
Sent from each loyal corporation,

Clouds on cach brow appear,
Full-freight with truth and lense,

My honey, and my dear,
Exhausted all their eloquence.

Is now quite out of date. But now, alas! 'twas night; kings must have meat; They pine, lament, and moan, The Grand Vizier first goes to pot,

'Twould melt an heart of stone, Three Bassas next, happy their lot!

To hear their fad complaint : Gain's Paradise by being cat.

Nor he supply'd her wants,
And this, said ne, and this is mine,

Nor sne refrain'd from taunts,
And this, by right divine :

That might provuks a laipt.

Hard words improve to blows,

“ See where my foaming billows flow, For now, grown mortal foes,

“ Above the hills my waves aspire, They peck, they scratch, they scream;

“ The shepherds and their flocks retire, The cage lies on the floor,

“ And tallest cedars as they pass in sign of homage The wires are fain'd with gore,

“ bow. It swells into a stream.

“ To me each tributary spring Dear Kitty, would you know

“ Its supplemental stores thall bring, The cause of all this woe,

“ With me the rivers shall unite, It is not hard to guess;

“ The lakes beneath my banners fight, Whatever does constrain,

“ Till the proud Danube and the Rhine Turns pleasure into pain,

" Shall own their fame eclips'd by mine ; 'Tis choice alone can bless.

" Both gods and men shall dread my watery (way,

“ Nor these in cities safe, nor in their temples When both no more are free,

.“ they." Inlipid I must be, And you lose all your charms;

Away the haughty boafter flew My smother'd passion dies,

Scarce bade her sister stream a cool adieu, And even your bright eyes,

Her waves grow turbulent and bold, Necesity disarms.

Not gently murmuring as of old, Then let us love, my fair,

But roughly dash against the shore, But unconstrain'd as air,

And toss their spumy heads, and proudly roar. Each join a willing heart;

'The careful farmer with surprise,

Sees the tumultuous torrent rise;
Let free-born souls disdain
To wear a tyrant's chain,

With busy looks the rustic band appear, (year, And act a nobler part.

To guard their growing hopes, the promise of the

All hands unite, with dams they bound

The rath rebellious stream around;
FABLE XII.

In vain the foams, in vain she ravés,

In vain the curls her fceble waves,
T be two Springs.

Besieg'd at last on every side,

Her source exhausted and her channel dry'd, " -- Errat longè meâ quidem sententia " Qui imperium credat gravius effe aut ttabilius

(Such is the fate of impotence and pride!) * Vi quod fit, quàm illud quod amicitiâ adjungi

A shallow pond the stands confin'd, " tur.'

TER.

The refuge of the croaking kind.

Rushes and sags, an inbred foe, Two lißer Springs, from the fame parent hill,

Choke up the inuddy pool below; Born on the same propitious day,

The tyrant fun on high Through the cleft rock difil:

ExaAs his usual subsidy; Adown the reverend mountain's fide,

And the poor pittance that remains, Through groves of myrtle glide,

Each gaping cranny drains. Or through the violet beds obliquely Atray.

Too late the fool repents her haughty boast, The laurel, cach proud vigor's crown,

A nameless nothing, in oblivion lort.
From them receives her high renown,

Her fifter spring, benevolent apd kind,
From them the curling vine

With joy sees all around her blett,
Her clusters big with racy wine,

The good she does, into her generous mind To them her oil the peaceful olive owes,

Returns again with interest. And her vermilion blush the rose.

The farmer oft invokes her aid The gracious streams in smooth meanders flow,

When Sirius nips the tender blade; To every thirsty root dispense

Her streams a fure elixir bring, Their kindly cooling influence,

Gay plenty decks the fields, and a perpetual spring, And paradise adorns the mountain's brow.

Where'er the gardiner fmooths her easy way, But oh! the sad effect of pride!

Her dudile it reains obey. I hcse bappy twins at last divide.

Courteous fhe visita every bed, " Sifter (exclaims th'ambitious spring)

Narcissus reare his drvopir.g head, " What profit do these labours bring?

By her diffusive bounty fed. Always in give, and never to enjoy,

Reviv'd from her indulgenc urn, “ A fruitless and a mean employ!

Sad Hyacinth forgets to mourn, “ Stay here inglorious if you please,

Rich in the bieflings ihe belows " And loiter out a life of indolence and ease :

All nature smiles where'er the flows. " Go, humble drudge, cach thistle rcar,

Enamour'd with a nymph so fair, " And nurle each fhrub, your daily care,

See where the river gods appear. & While, pouring down from this my lofty source, A nymph so eminently good, " I deluge all the plain,

The joy of all the neighbourhord; « No dams shall stop my course,

They clasp her in their liquid arms, And rocks oppose in vain.

And riut in th' abundance of her charms.

}