His stomach balk'd, now hunger gnaws,

Look here! the sland'rous Jie detect; Howling, he grinds his empty jaws;

Not haughty man is so erect. Food must be had, and lamb is nigh;

That peacock yonder! lord, how vain His maw invokes the fraudful lie.

The creature's of his gaudy train ! “ Is this," dissembling rage, he cry'd,

If both were stript, I'd pawn my word, “ The gentle virtue of a bride?

A goose would be the finer bird. That, leagu'd with man's destroying race,

Nature, to hide her own defects, She sets her husband for the chase ?

Her bungled work with finery decks; By treach'ry prompts the noisy hound

Were geese set off with half that show, To scent his footsteps on the ground?

Would men admire the peacock? No." Thou trait'ress vile! for this thy blood

Thus vaunting, cross the mead she stalks, Shall glut my rage, and dye the wood !”

The cackling breed attend her walks ; So saying, on the Lamb he flies,

The Sun shot down his noontide beams,
Beneath his jaws the victim dies.

The Swans were sporting in the streams;
Their snowy plumes, and stately pride
Provok'd her spleen. “Why there,” she cry'd,

“ Again, what arrogance we see!
FABLE VII.

Those creatures! how they mimic me!

Shall every fowl the waters skim,
THE GOOSE AND THE SWANS.

Because we geese are known to swim?

Humility they soon shall learn, I hate the face, however fair,

And their own emptiness discern." That carries an affected air ;

So saying, with extended wings, The lisping tone, the shape constrain’d,

Lightly upon the wave she springs; The study'd look, the passion feign'd,

Her bosom swells, she spreads her plumes, Are fopperies, which only tend

And tbe swan's stately crest assumes. To injure what they strive to mend.

Contempt and mockery ensu'd, With what superior grace enchants

Anl bursts of laughter shook the food. The face, which Nature's pencil paints !

A Swan, superior to the rest, Where eyes, unexercis'd in art,

Sprung forth, and thus the fool address'd. Glow with the meaning of the heart !

“ Conceited thing, elate with pride! Where freedom, and good-humour sit,

Thy affectation all deride; And easy gaiety, and wit!

These airs thy aukwardness impart, Though perfect beauty be not there,

And show thee plainly, as thou art. The master lines, the finish'd air,

Ainong thy, equals of the fock, We catch from every look delight,

Thou hadst escap'd the public mock, And grow enainour'd at the sight :

And as thy parts to good conduce, For beauty, though we all approve,

Been deem'd an honest hobbling goose.” Excites our wonder more than love,

Learn hence, to study wisdom's rules; While the agreeable strikes sure,

Know, foppery's the pride of fools; And gives the wounds we cannot cure.

And striving Nature to conceal,
Why then, my Amoret, this care,

You only her defects reveal.
That forms you, in effect, less fair?
If Nature on your cheek bestows
A bloom, that emulates the rose,
Or from soine heav'nly image drew

FABLE VIII.
A form, Apelles never knew,

THE LAWYER AND JUSTICE.
Your ill-judg'd aid will you impart,
And spoil by meretricious art?

Love! thou divinest good below,
Or had you, Nature's errour, come

Thy pure delights few mortals know! Abortive from the mother's womb,

Our rebel hearts thy sway disown, Your forming care she still rejects,

While tyrant Lust usurps thy throne. Which only heightens her defects.

The bounteous God of Nature made When such, of glittring jewels proud,

The sexes for each other's aid, Still press the foremost in the crowd,

Their mutual talents to employ, At every public show are seen,

To lessen ills, and heighten joy. With look awry, and aukward mien,

To weaker woman he assign'd The gaudy dress attracts the eye,

That soft'ning gentleness of mind, And magnifies deformity.

That can, by sympathy, impart Nature may under-do her part,

Its likeness to the roughest heart. But seldom wants the help of Art;

Her eyes with magic pow'r endu'd, Trust her; she is your surest friend,

To fire the dull, and awe the rude. Nor made your form for you to mend.

His rosy fingers on her face

Shed lavish every blooming grace, A Goose, affected, empty, vain,

And stamp'd (perfection to display) The shrillest of the cackling train,

His mildest image on her clay. With proud, and elevate:l crest,

Man, active, resolute, and bold, Precedence claim'd above the rest.

He fashion'd in a different mould, Says she, “ I laugh at human race,

With useful arts his mind informd, Who say, geese hobble in their pace:

His breast with nobler passions warın'd;

He gave him knowledge, taste and sense,

Prescribes, and spins out the disease, And courage, for the fair's defence.

To trick the patient of his fees. Her frame, resistless to each wrong,

“ The soldier, rough with many a scar, Demands protection from the strong;

And red with slaughter, leads the war; To man she flies, when fear alarms,

If he a nation's trust betray, And claims the temple of his arms.

The foe has offer'd double pay. By Nature's author thus declar'd

“When vice o'er all mankind prevails, The woman's sov'reign, and her guard,

And weighty int'rest turns the scales, Shall man, by treach'rous wiles, invade

Must I be better than the rest, The weakness he was meant to aid ?

And harbour Justice in my breast? While beauty, given to inspire

On one side only take the fee, Protecting love, and soft desire,

Content with poverty and thee?" Lights up a wild-tire in the heart,

“ Thou blind to sense, and vile of mind,” And to its own breast points the dart,

Th' exasperated Sbade rejoin'd, Becomes the spoiler's base pretence

“ If virtue from the world is flown, To triumph over innocence?

Will others' frauds excuse thy own? The wolf, that tears the tim'rous sheep,

Por sickly souls the priest was made; Was never set the fold to keep;

Physicians, for the body's aid; Nor was the tiger, or the pard

The soldier guarded liberty ; Meant the benighted travller's guard;

Man woman, and the lawyer me. But man, the wildest beast of prey,

If all are faithless to their trust, Wears friendship's semblance, to betray;

They leave not thee the less unjust. His strength against the weak employs,

Henceforth your pleadings I disclaim, And where he should protect, destroys.

And bar the sanction of my name;

Within your courts it shall be read, “ Past twelve o'clock," the watchman cry'd, That Justice from tbe law is fled.” His brief the studious lawyer plyd;

She spoke; and hid in shades her face, The all-prevailing foc lay nigh,

Till Hardwicke sooth'd her into grace.
The carnest of to morrow's lie.
Sudden the furious winds arise,
Tre jarring casement shatter'd flies;
The doors admit a hollow sound,

FABLE IX.
And rattling from their hinges bound;

THE FARMER, THE SPANIEL, AND THE CAT. When Justice, in a blaze of light, Reveal'd her radiant form to sight.

Why knits my dear her angry brow? The wretch with thrilling horrous shook,, What rude offence alarms you now? Loose every joint, and pale his look;

I said, that Delia's fair, 'tis true, Not having seen her in the courts,

But did I say she equall'd you? Or found her mention'd in Reports,

Can't I another's face commend, He ask'd, with fa!tring tongue, her pame,

Or to her virtues be a friend, Her errand there, and whence she came?

But instantly your forehead lours, Sternly the white-rob’d Shade reply'd,

As if ber merit lessen'd yours? (A crimson glow ber visage dy'd)

From female envy never free, Canst thou be doubtful who I am ?

All must be blind, because you see. Is Justice grown so strange a name?

Survey the gardens, fields, and bow'rs, Were not your courts for Justice rais'd?

The buds, the blossoms, and the flow'rs, 'Twas there, of old, my altars blaz'd.

Then tell me where the woodbine grows, My guardian tliee did I elect,

That vies in sweetness with the rose? My sacred temple to protect,

Or where the lily's snowy white, That thou, and all thy venal tribe

That throws such beauties on the sight? Should spurn the goddess for the bribe?

Yet folly is it to declare, Aloud the ruind client cries,

That these are neither sweet, nor fair. * Justice has neither ears, nor eyes;'

The crystal shines with fainter rays, In foul alliance with the bar,

Before the di'mond's brighter blaze; 'Gainst me the judge denounces war,

And fops will say, the di'mond dies, And rarely issues his decree,

Before the lustre of your eyes:
But with intent to baffle me.”

But I, who deal in truth, deny
She pausd. Her breast with fury burn'd. That neither shine when you are by.
The trembling Lawyer thus return'd.

When zephyrs o'er the blossoms stray, “ I own the charge is justly laid,

And sweets along the air convey, And weak th' excuse that can be made;

Sha'n't I the fragrant breeze inhale, Yet search the spacious globe, and see

Because you breathe a sweeter gale? If all mankind are not like me.

Sweet are the flow’rs, that deck the field; “ The gown-man, skill'd in Romish lies,

Sweet is the smell the blossoms yield; By faith's false glass deludes our eyes ;

Sweet is the summer gale that blows; O'er couscience rides without control,

And sweet, though sweeter you, the rose. And robs the man to save his soul.

Shall envy tben torment your breast, “ The doctor, with important face,

If you are lovelier than the rest?
By sly design, mistakes the case;

For while I give to each ber due,
By praising them I fatter you ;

1

And, praising most, I still declare

Needs there such caution to delude You fajrest, where the rest are fair.

The scaly fry, and feather'd brood ?

And think you, with interior art,
As at his board a Farmer sate,

To captivate the human heart?
Replenish'd by his homely treat,

The maid, who modestly conceals ! His fav’rite Spaniel near him stood,

Her beauties, while she hides, reveals. ] And with his master shar'd the foud;

Give but a glimpse, and fancy draus The crackling bones his jaws devour'd,

Whate'er the Grecian Venus was. His lapping tongue the trenchers scour'd;

From Eve's first fig-leaf to brocade, Till sated now, supine he lay,

All dress was meant for Fancy's aid,
And snor'd the rising fumes away.

Which evermore delighted dwells
The hungry Cat, in turn, drew near,

Ou what the bashful nymph conceals. And humbly crav'd a servant's share;

When Cælia struts in man's attire, Her modest worth the master knew,

She shows too much to raise desire; And straight the fatt'ning morsel threw:

But from the hoop's bewitching round, Enrag'd the snarling cur awoke,

Her very shoe has power to wound. And thus, with spiteful envy, spoke.

The roving eye, the bosom bare, “ They only claim a right to eat,

The forward laugh, the wanton air, Who earn by services their mcat.

May catch the fop; for gudgeons strike Me, zeal and industry intlame

At the bare hook, and bait, alike; To scour the fields, and spring the game;

While salmon play regardless by,
Or, plunging in the wintry wave,

Till art, like nature, forms the tly.
For man the wounded bird to save.
With watchful diligence I keep,

BENEATU a peasant's homely thatch, From prowling wolves, his feecy sheep;

A Spider long had held her watch; At home his inidnight hours secure,

From morn to night, with restless care, And drive the robber from the door.

She spun her web, and wove her snare. For this, his breast with kindness glows;

Within the limits of her reign For this, his hand the food bestows;

Lay many a heedless captive slain, And shall thy indolence impart

Or, flutt'ring, struggled in the toils, A warmer friendship to his heart,

To burst the chains, and shun her wiles. That thus he robs me of my due,

A straying Bee, that perch'd hard by, To pamper such vile things as you?”

Beheld her with disdainful eye, “ I own,” with meekness Puss reply'd,

And thus began. " Mean thing, give o'er, Superior merit on your side;

And lay thy slender threads no more; Nor does my breast with envy swell,

A thoughtless fly or two, at most, To find it recompens'd so well;

Is all the conquest thou canst boast; Yet I, in what my nature can,

For bees of sense thy arts erade, Contribute to the good of man.

We see so plain the nets are laid. Whose claws destroy the pilf'ring mouse?

“ The gaudy tulip, that displays Who drives the vermin from the house?

Her spreading foliage to the gaze; Or, watchful for the lab'ring swain,

That points her charms at all she sees, From lurking rats secures the grain?

And yields to every wanton breeze, From hence, if he rewards bestow,

Attracts not me: where blushing grows, Why should your heart with gall o'erflow? Guarded with thorns, the modest rose, Why pine my happiness to see,

Enamour'd, round and round I Ry, Since there's enough for you and me?”

Or on her fragrant bosom lie; “ Thy words are just,” the Farmer cryd, Reluctant, she my ardour meets, And spurn'd the snarler from his side.

And bashtul, renders up her sweets."

To wiser heads attention lend,
And learn this lesson from a friend.

She, who with modesty retires,
FABLE X.

Adds fuel to her lover's fires,

While such incautious jilts as you,
THE SPIDER AND THE LEF.

By folly your own schemes undo.
The nymph, who walks the public streets,
And sets her cap at all she meets,
May catch the fool who turns to stare,

FABLE XI.
But men of sense avoid the snare.
As on the margin of the flood,

TIIE YOUNG LION AND THE APE.
With silken line, my Lydia stood,
I smil'd to see the pains you took,

'Tis true, I blame your lover's choice, To cover o'er the frandful hook.

Though fatterd by the public voice,
Along the forest as we stray'd,

And peevi: h grow, and sick, to hear
You saw the boy bis lime-twigs spread;

His exclamations, “ () how fair !"
Guess'd you the reason of his fear,

I listen not to wild delights,
Lest, heedless, we approach'd too near?

And transports of expected nights:
For as behind the bush we lay,

What is to me your board of charms?
The linnet flutter'd on the spray.

'The whiteness of your neck and arms?

Needs there no acquisition more,

Good offices their likeness get, To keep contention from the door?

And payment lessens not the debt; Yes; pass a fortnight, and you 'll find

With multiplying hand he gives All beauty cloys, but of the mind.

The good, from others he receives: Sense and good-humour ever prove

Or for the bad makes fair return,
The surest cords to fasten love.

And pays, with interest, scorn for scorn.
Yet, Phills, simplest of your sex,
You never think but to perplex,
Coquetting it with every ape,

FABLE XII.
That struts abroad in human shape ;
Not that the coxcomb is your taste,

THE COLT AND THE FARMER.
But that it stings your lover's breast :
To morrow you resign the sway,

Tell me, Corinna, if you can,
Prepar'd to honour, and obey,

Why so averse, so coy to man? The tyrant-mistress change for life,

Did Nature, lavish of her care, To the submission of a wife.

From her best pattern form you fair, Your follies, if you can, suspend,

That you, ungrateful to her cause, And learn instruction from a friend.

Shonld mock her gifts, and spurn her laws ? Reluctant, hear the first address,

And miser-like, withhold that store, Think often, ere you answer, yes;

Which, by imparting, blesses more? But once resolv'd, throw off' disguise,

Eeauty 's a gift, by Heav'u assign'd, And wear your wishes in your eyes.

The portion of the female kind; With caution every look forbear,

For this the yielding maid demands That might create one jealous fear,

Protection at her lover's hands; A lover's ripening hopes confound,

And though by wasting years it fade, Or give the generous breast a wound,

Remembrance tells him, once 'twas paid. Contemn the girlish arts to teaze,

And will you then this wealth conceal, Nor use your powr, unless to please;

For age to rust, or time to steala For fools alone with rigour sway,

The summer of your youth to rove, When, soon or late, they must obey.

A stranger to the joys of love?

Then, when life's winter hastens on, The king of brutes, in life's decline,

And youth's fair heritage is gone, Resolv'd dominion to resign ;

Dow’rless to court some peasant's arms, The beasts were summou'd to appear,

To guard your wither'd age from harms; And bend before the royal heir.

No gratitude to warm his breast, They came; a day was fix'd ; the crowd

For blooming beauty, once possessid ; Before their future monarch bow'd.

How will you curse that stubborn pride, A dapper Monkey, pert and vain,

Which drove your bark across the tide, Stepp'd forth, and thus address'd the train,

And sailing before folly's wind, Why cringe my friends with slavish awe, Left sense and happiness behind ? Before this pageant king of straw?

Corinna, lest these whiins prevail,
Shall we anticipate the hour,

To such as you, I write my tale.
And ere we feel it, own his power?
The counsels of experience prize,

A colt, for blood, and mettled speed,
I know the maxims of the wise;

The choicest of the running breed, Subjection let us cast away,

Of youthful strength, and beauty vain, And live the inonarchs of to day;

Refus'd subjection to the rein. "Tis ours the vacant hand to spurn,

In vain the groom's oflicious skill And play the tyrant each in turn.

Oppos'd his pride, and check'd his will: So sball he right from wrong discern,

In vain the master's forming care And mercy from oppression learn;

Restrain’d with threats, or sooth'd with pray'r; At others' woes be taught to melt,

Of freedom proud, and scorning man, And loath the ills bimself has felt.”

Wild o'er the spacious plains be ran. He spoke; luis bosom swell’d with pride.

Where'er luxuriant Nature spread
The youthful Lion thus reply'd.

Her flow'ry carpet o'er the mead,
“ What madness prompts thee to provoke Or bubbling streams soft-gliding pass,
My wrath, and dare th’impending stroke? To cool and freshen up the grass,
Thou wretched fool! can wrongs impart

Disdaining bounds, he cropp'd the blade,
Compassion to the feeling heart?

And wanton'd in the spoil he inade. Or teach the grateful breast to glow,

In plenty thus the summer pass'd, The hand to give, or eye to flow?

Revolving winter came at last; Learn'd in the practice of their schools,

The trees no more a shelter yield, From women thou hast drawn thy rules:

The verdure withers from the rield, To them return; in such a cause,

Perpetual snow's invest the ground, From only such expect applause;

In icy chains the streams are bound; The partial sex I not condemn,

Cold, nipping winds, and rattling bail, For liking those, who copy them.

Ilis lank, unshelter'd sides assail. Wou'd'st thon the genervus Lion bind,

As round he east his ruerul eyes, By kindness bribe him to be kiud;

He saw the thatch'd-roof cottage rise;

The prospect touch'd his heart with cheer, All meanings she defines away,
And promis'd kind deliv'rance near.

And stands, with truth and sense, at bay. A stable, erst his scorn and hate,

If e'er she meets a gentle heart, Was now become his wish'd retreat;

Skill'd in the housewife's useful art, His passion cool, his pride forgot,

Who makes her family her care,
A Farmer's welcome yard he sought.

And builds Contentment's temple there,
The master saw his woful plight,

She starts at such mistakes in Nature,
His limbs, that totter'd with his weight,

Aud crics,

“ Lord help us! what a creature !" And, friendly, to the stable led,

Melissa, if the moral strike,
And saw him litter'd, dress'd, and fed.

You 'll find the fable nut unlike.
In slothful ease all night he lay;
The servants rose at break of day;

An Owl, puild up with self-conceit,
The market calls. Along the road

Lov'd learning better than his meat; His back must bear the pond'rous load;

Old manuscripts he treasur'd up, In vain he struggles, or complains,

And rummag'd every grocer's shop; Incessant blows reward his pains.

At pastry-cooks was known to ply, To morrow varies but bis toil;

And strip, for science, every pie. Chain'd to the plough, he breaks the soil;

For modern poetry and wit, While scanty meals, at night, repay

He had read all that Blackmore writ; The painful labours of the day.

So intimate with Curl was grown,

His learned treasures were his own; Subdu'd by toil, with anguish rent,

To all his authors had access, His self-upbraidings found a vent. * Wretch that I am !” he sighing said,

And sometimes would correct the press. “ By arrogance and folly led,

In logic he acquir'd such knowledge, Had but my restive youth been brought

You 'd swear hin fellow of a college; To learn the lesson Nature taught,

Alike to every art and science, Then had I, like my sires of vore,

His daring genius bid defiance, The prize from every courser bore;

And swallow'd wisdom, with that haste, While man bestow'd rewards, and praise,

That cits do custards at a feast. And females crown'd my latter days.

Within the shelter of a wood, Now lasting servitude 's my lot,

One ev'ning, as he musing stood, My birth contemn'd, my speed forgot,

Hard by, upon a leafy spray, Doom'd am I, for my pride, to bear

A Nightingale began his lay.
A living death, from year to year.”

Sudden he starts, with anger stung,
And, screeching, interrupts the song.

“ Pert, busy thing, thy airs give o'er,

And let my contemplation soar.
FABLE XIII.

What is the music of thy voice,
But jarring dissonance and noise ?
Be wise. True harmony, thou ’lt find,

Not in the throat, but in the mind;
OWL AND THE NIGHTINGALE.

By empty chirping not attain'd,
To know the mistress' humour right, I

But by laborious study gain'd. See if her maids are clean and tight; 1

Go read the authors Pope explodes, If Betty waits without her stays,

Fathom the depth of Cibber's odes, She copies but her lady's ways.

With modern plays improve thy wit, When miss comes in with boist'rous shout,

Read all the learning Henley writ; And drops no curtsy going out,

And, if thou neerls must sing, sing then, Ihpend upon 't, mamma is one,

And emulate the ways of men; Who reads, or drinks too much alone.

So shalt thou grow, like me, refind, If bottled beer her thirst assuage,

And bring improvement to thy kind.” She feels enthusiastic rage,

“ Thou wretch,” the little warbler cry'd, And burns with ardour to inherit

“Made up of ignorance and pride, The gifts, and workings of the spirit,

Ask all the birds, and they 'll declare, If learning crack her giddy brains,

A greater blockhead wings not air. No remedly, but death, remains.

Read o'er thyself, thy talents scan, Sum up the various ills of life,

Science was only meant for man.

No useless authors me molest,
And all are sweet, tu such a wife.

I mind the duties of my nest;
At home, superior wit she raunts,
And twits her husband with his wants;

With careful wing protect my young,
Her ragged offspring all around,

And cheer their ev'nings with a song. Like pigs, are wallowing on the ground:

“ Thus, following Nature, and her laws,

From men and birds I claim applause;
Inpatient ever of control,
She knows no order, but of soul;

While, nurs'd in pedantry and sloth,
With books her litter'd floor is spread,

An Owl is scorn'd alike by both."
Of nameless authors, never read;
Fal linen, petticoats, and lace
Fill up the intermediate space.
abroad, at visitings, her tongue
I never suill, and always wrong ;

THE

END OF FABLES FOR THE LADIES.