Aesop at Tunbridge, or, A few select fables in verse by no person of quality. No person of quality. 1698 Approx. 24 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 20 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2003-07 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A26532 Wing A739 ESTC R15896 11729537 ocm 11729537 48381 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A26532) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 48381) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 482:2) Aesop at Tunbridge, or, A few select fables in verse by no person of quality. No person of quality. Ward, Edward, 1667-1731. [8], 29 p. Printed and are to be sold by E. Whitlock ..., London : 1698. Attributed to Edward Ward. cf. Harvard University Libraries. There appear to be at least two versions of this work bearing the same imprint. This version differs in pagination and in the "To the reader." Reproduction of original in Bristol Public Library, Bristol, England. Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford. Re-processed by University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. Gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. 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Copies of the texts have been issued variously as SGML (TCP schema; ASCII text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable XML (TCP schema; characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless XML (TEI P5, characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or TEI g elements). Keying and markup guidelines are available at the Text Creation Partnership web site . eng 2003-02 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2003-03 SPi Global Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2003-05 Emma (Leeson) Huber Sampled and proofread 2003-05 Emma (Leeson) Huber Text and markup reviewed and edited 2003-06 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion AESOP AT TUNBRIDGE . OR , A few select FABLES IN VERSE . BY No Person of Quality . LONDON : Printed , and are to be Sold by E. Whitlock , near Stationers-hall . 1698. TO THE READER . RIding , of late , to take a little Air , and crossing by some chance the Tunbridg Road , it was my fortune to find a parcel of Papers , which were doubtless dropt by some unwary Passenger , who had made more Haste than good Speed ; and taking them up , I found they were the following Fables : which , I imagine , some Young Gentleman of Wit and Leisure , had diverted himself in composing , whilst he was obliged to drink the Waters . The Entertainment they gave me and my Friends , made me think of making them Publick ; and considering the Nature of them , and that they were very fairly written , it is not at all unlikely that the Author had designed them for the Press himself . There are but two little Reasons to the contrary , which may be also soon , answered ; First , That they are too small to make a Book : the Second , That some of the Fables are too bold , and might expose the Author to some Danger or Displeasure . As to the first Objection , Whoever would be sure of Pleasing must not be tedious ; it happens but to a few great Books to be read through ; and many good Authors have defeated their own purpose of instructing the World , by frightning the Reader with three or four hundred Pages : but besides , the Nature of such a Work as this , requires that the Reader be never cloy'd , but always kept in good Humour and good Appetite , which a long Work could hardly do ; and ten or a dozen Morals are enow to amuse the Mind , and keep it exercised a good while . But , after all , it may be there were many Fables more intended to follow these ; and then I have nothing to say but that these were all I found , and thought they were too many to be lost to the Publick . To the other Objection , the Author , having nothing to fear , has nothing to answer ; for they are publish'd , if not without his Will , yet without his Knowledge . But should it be granted that one or two Fables are a little too bold and angry , yet since there is some Foundation for such sort of Mutterings and Complaints , from whence can our Rulers learn these Truths more inoffensively , than from such little Stories ? they will not , perhaps , attend so easily to wise and good Men as they will to Foxes and Asses ; and wise and good Men will not , it may be , dare to tell those Truths these Beasts deliver , which yet our Governours should know . I will not altogether excuse the Exaggeration of Matters in the twelfth Fable ; for tho' our Bargain be dear enough ; yet I can't tell what we should have done without it ; and Things , I hope , will mend upon our hands , in good time . AESOP AT TUNBRIDGE . FAB . I. Fair Warning . IN Aesop's new-made World of Wit , Where Beasts could talk , and read , and write , And say and do as he saw fit . A certain Fellow thought himself abus'd , And represented by an Ass ; And Aesop to the Judge accus'd That he defamed was . Friend , quoth the Judge , how do you know Whether you are defam'd or no ? How can you prove that he must mean You , rather than another Man ? Sir , quoth the Man , it needs must be , All Circumstances so agree , And all the Neighbours say 't is Me. That 's somewhat , quoth the Judge , indeed , But let this Matter pass ; Since 't was not Aesop , 't is agreed , But Application made the Ass. FAB . II. The Cock and Pearl . A Dunghil Cock was raking in the Ground , And flirted up a Pearl ; I would , quoth he , thou hadst been found By some great Lord or Earl. My self a single Barly-corn Would , surely , rather find : We Creatures that are dull , Earth-born , Things only useful mind . Whilst they who are divinely Wise , And do from Iove proceed , Thy lovely orient Lustre prize , And for thy Beauty trade . FAB . III. Of the Horse and Ass. A Horse and Ass were journying on their way ; The Horse was only harness'd , light , and gay ; The Ass was heavy loaden , and lagg'd behind , And thus , at length , bespake his Friend . Companion , take some pity on my State , And ease me but of half my Weight . Half will to you no burthen be , And yet a mighty help to me . The Horse laugh'd loud , and shook his Head , And wantonly curvetting said ; Seignior , we Horses never choose The Burthens that we can refuse ; And should such Jest upon me pass , Methinks I should be but an Ass. The Ass quite spent , and vext to be deny'd , Sunk down beneath his Weight , and dy'd . The Master coming up , took off the Sack , And threw it on the Horse's Back : And having flaid his Ass , he threw The filthy Hide upon him too . At which the Horse , thus sadly humbled , cry'd . ( Letting some Tears for Grief and Anger fall ) Whether `twere Cruelty , or Pride , That I so fair Request deny'd , I am justly serv'd , and made to carry all . The Asses of the South and East Desire the Horses of the North and West , That , as to Parliament they trot , This Fable may not be forgot . FAB . IV. Of the Iudgment of the Ape . A Wolf complain'd that he had lost a Lamb , And strait impleads a Fox of no good Fame , ( Who had a Lamb ) that he had stoln the same , An Ape was to decide the Cause , Having some Knowledg in the Laws . No Councel was by either feed , Each would his Cause , in person , plead ; And so they did , with mighty heat ; The Judg himself did almost sweat , To hear the Force of their Debate . How they accuse , and how defend , How they reply'd , joyn'd and rejoyn'd . At length in pity to the Court , The Judg was fain to cut them short ; And thus determin'd — Sirs , in troth , The Lamb belongs to neither of you both . You , Mr. Wolf , have , doubtless , lost no Lamb ; And , Renard , you as surely stole that same ; But not from him . If Justice might prevail , You should be both condemn'd to Fine and Jail . So two great Lords for an Estate may fight , Which does to neither appertain , by Right . FAB . V. Of the Horse and Man. A Fierce wild Boar , of monstrous size and force , Did once , in early days , affront a Horse ; Who meditating Vengeance , found his Will To hurt , much greater than his Power and Skill ; And therefore , chaf'd and resolute , he ran To the next House , and thus apply'd to Man. I come , Superiour Power , whom Iove hath made His Substitute on Earth , to seek thy Aid , Against a sordid Brute , who injures me , And likewise speaks contemptibly of Thee . Iove , whom thou nam'st ( said Man ) was to thee kind , And sent thee where thou shalt Assistance find . But this injurious Boar will never meet Our Arms upon the Plain , but trusts his Feet ▪ But shall his Feet then his Protection be , Since Swiftness is the Gift of Iove to thee ? ( Mark it , my Friend , this Insolence Deprives us of our common Sense . ) This doubtless he forgot ; so will not we . You , for Convenience , will a while submit To be directed with a Bridle and Bitt ; And take me on your Back , till we shall see This your outragious Enemy . Up , said the Horse then , let us never rest , Till we have found this cursed Beast . Away then to the Woods they flew , The Horse his Haunts and Coverts knew , And there his Foe , the dextrous Warriour slew . This done , they jocund homewards make ▪ And thus the Horse the Man bespake . Now , Sir , accept my Thanks for what is past , I to my wonted Fields , and Friends must hast . Hold , quoth the Man , we part not quite so soon ; Your Business is , but Mine is not yet done . Some Service there remains , due to the Aid I lent you , which must be repaid . This said , he light , and ty'd him to a Rack ; Where the poor Creature , thus with Sorrow spake . Slight was the Injury of the Boar , And might , perhaps , have been no more : But now I 'm utterly undone , My Ease and Liberty are gone . Sweet is Revenge , just in the Taste , But surely Bitterness at last . Let other Creatures warning take , What Bargains they in Passion make . Let Nations also take good care , That they with many Hardships bear , Rather than seek Redress abroad ; Which is but adding to their Load . FAB . VI. The Bargain . TWO Welchmen Partners in a Cow , Resolv'd to sell her dear ; And laid their Heads together , how To do 't at Ludlow Fair. It was a sultry Summers Day , When out they drove the Beast ; And having got about half way , They sat them down to rest . The Cow , a Creature of no Breeding , ( The place with Grass being stor'd ) Fed by ; and whilst she was a feeding , Let fall a mighty T — . Roger , quoth Hugh , I tell thee what , Two Words and I have done ; If thou wilt fairly eat up that , The Cow is all thy own . 'T is done , quoth Roger , 't is agreed , And to 't he went apace ; He seem'd so eager sett , 't is said , That he forgot his Grace . He labour'd with his wooden Spoon , And up he slopt the Stuff ; Till , by the time that half was done , He felt he had enough . He felt : but scorning to go back , Would look as if he wanted more ; And seem'd to make a fresh Attack , With as much Vigour as before . But stopping short a while , he cry'd , How fares it , Neighbour Hugh ? I hope , by this , you 're satisfied , Who 's Master of the Cow. Ay , ay , quoth Hugh ( the Devil choak thee , For nothing else can do 't , ) I 'm satisfi'd that thou hast broke me , Unless thou wilt give out . Give out ? quoth Roger , that were fine ; Why , what have I been doing ? But yet I tell thee , Friend of mine , I shall not seek thy Ruine . My Heart now turns against such Gains ; I know th' art piteous poor . Eat thou the half that still remains , And 't is as 't was before . God's Blessing on thy Heart , quoth Hugh , That Proffer none can gainsay ; With that , he readily fell to , And eat his share o' th' Tansie . Well now , quoth Hodge , w' are ev'n , no doubt , And neither side much Winner . So had we been , quoth Hugh , without This damn'd confounded Dinner . Let this , both to our Wars and Peace Be honestly apply'd ; France and th' Allies have done no less , Than what these Welch-men did . FAB . VII . The Frogs Concern . TWO fierce young Bulls within the Marshes strove For the Reward of Empire and of Love ; Which should the fairest Heifer gain , And which should govern all the Plain . This , when a Frog hard by perceiv'd , He sigh'd , and sob'd , and sorely griev'd , He hung his Head , and made great moan , As tho he had lost his Wife or Son. At which a neighbour Frog admir'd , And kindly of the Cause enquir'd ; Which when he knew , he said in haste , And Gossip , is this all at last ? If this and that great Loggerheaded Bull Will try the Thickness of each others Scull , E'en let them do , as fit they see : But what is that to You and Me ? If that , replied the other , were all indeed , We should about this Matter be agreed . I should not care a single Groat , To see 'em tear each others Throat ; But , Friend , the Creatures of such Might , Can never meet in Field to fight , But in the Fury of their full Carreer , Both you and I endanger'd are ; And all our kindred Tribes below , In hazard of their Lives must go . When Bulls rush on , or when retreat for Breath , They 'll tread a hundred of us little Folks to death . If Kings would fight themselves alone , Their People still secure , No mortal Man would part 'em sure , But let them e'en fight on . But when the Subjects Blood is spilt , And their Estates are drain'd , To justifie a Prince's Guilt , Or have his Vanity maintain'd ; When they must pay for all at last , That Lust , Ambition , or Revenge lay waste ; The poorest Man alive may fear , And pray against the Miseries of War. FAB . VIII . Of a Man and his Ass. A Wretched Churl was trav'lling with his Ass , Beneath two Panniers Load opprest ; And hearing Noise behind , cry'd to the Beast , Fly , my Friend Roger , fly apace ; Else I 'm undone , and all my Market's naught ; And thou thy self wilt by the Rogues be caught . Caught ? quoth the Beast , what if I be ? What will it signifie to me ? My Panniers are so full , they 'll hold no more ; I carry two and cannot carry four . 'Twixt Rogues and You , I can no difference make , They are all Rogues to me , who break my Back . Fly , fly from France , our Statesmen cry , And Slavery's cursed Yoke ; Whilst with our Antient Liberty , Our very Backs are broke . France is a Thief ; but France can do no more , Than keep the Panniers on we had before . FAB . IX . Of a Wolf. A Wolf retiring from Whitehal , Where he had Statesman been , Built for himself a Box so small , That few could be receiv'd within . The Country all admir'd at this , And could not at the Reason guess , Why one so Wealthy and so Great , Should cage himself at such a rate . Till at the last a Fox came by , A Courtier also , sleek and sly , And thus in earnest and in jest , His Reason gave among the rest , Perhaps my Lord Commissioner intends , Here to receive only his honest Friends . FAB . X. The Plaintiff and Defendant . TWO Travellers an Oyster found , Dropt from some Pannier down ; Each stoopt , and took it from the Ground , And claim'd it as his own . Since both can't have it all , said one , E'en let it parted be . No , says the other , all or none , But all belongs to me . One Serjeant Law , by chance came by , And he must end the Strife : Which thing he did immediatly , With his deciding Knife . He took the Fish , and cut it up . ( This Cause he opened well ) And fairly did the Oyster sup , And gave to each a Shell . And if hereafter Causes rise , Where People can't agree , I know , quoth he , you 'll be so wise To refer them still to me . My Name is Law , my Chambers are At some of the Inns of Court , Or Serjeant's Inn , or Westminster , Where all for Help resort . Sir , quo ' the Men , trust us for that , We shall not fail to tell , 'T was Law that did the Oyster eat , And left to Us the Shell . FAB . XI . Of the Pigeons . THE Hawks were once at mortal Jars , Which came at length to Civil Wars . The Pigeons they stood looking on , And , full of Pity , made great moan ; To see how bloodily they fought , And each the others Ruine sought . And never would these Creatures cease , Till they had mediated a Peace . The Hawks did easily consent , So Peace was made , and home they went , Where when they came and wanted Prey , And how to pass their time away ; They fairly made one general Swoop , And eat their Mediators up . Two lucky Pigeons were not there , And so escap'd the Massacre . Of which the One to th' Other said , How came our Kindred all so mad ? Parting of Hawks ! Hawks ever should Be gorg'd with one anothers Blood. The Wicked have a natural Rage , ( A thirst of Violence to asswage . ) Which if not on the Wicked spent , Will fall upon the Innocent . So the poor Hugonors of France , And Vaudois full as poor , Pray'd loudly , in their Innocence , That God would Peace restore . Peace was restor'd ; but Peace to them No Safety did restore ; Their Hawks employ'd their Power and Time Much worse than e'er before . And thou , O Church of England Dove , Doat not upon thy Peace ; That may , than War , more fatal prove , Both to thy Wealth and Ease . FAB . XII . The Farmer and the Hare . A Hare did once into a Garden get Belonging to a Farm ; Where she began to throw up Earth , and eat , And do some little Harme . The Farmer cours'd her round and round , But got her not away ; Puss took a liking to the Ground , And there resolv'd to stay . Well , quoth the Fellow , in a Fret , Since you are grown so bold , I shall some more Assistance get , And drive you from your Hold. And strait he sends to a young Squire , That he , by break of day Would with his Pack of Hounds repair , And sport himself that way . The Squire , as ask'd , attended came , With Folks , and Horse , and Hounds , And in pursuance of the Game , Rode over all the Grounds . They leapt the Ditches , broke the Hedges down , And made most fearful Wast ; They trampl'd all the Garden round , And kill'd poor Puss at last . At this the Farmer tore his Hair , And swore most bloodily , Zounds ! What confounded work is here ? And what a Fool am I ? Not fifty Hares , in fifty Days , Had so much Mischief done , As this good Squire ( whom I must praise And thank ) hath wrought in One. If our Deliverance from the Frights Of standing Army near , And silly superstitious Rites , Worth Forty Millions were ; Then have we wisely broke our Mounds , That our Defences were , Wisely call'd in our Neighbours Hounds , And kill'd the desperate Hare . But if , with all this vast Expence , Besides a Sea of Blood Spilt in the Church and States Defence , Our Matters stand much as they stood ▪ Then have we done a World of ill , With endless Cost and Pains , A little hurtful Hare to kill ; And well deserve the Brains . FAB . XIII . Poetry its Cure. 1. A Youth of pregnant Parts and Wit , And thirsty after Fame , Was musing long which way to get An everlasting Name . 2. And having heard of Poetry , And its immortal Praise ; He thought the way to Fame must ly By courting of the Bayes . 3. He heard how many a noble Town Laid Claim to Homer's Birth , To purchase from it a Renown , Above the rest of th' Earth . 4. This kindl'd in his generous Mind A strong and noble Fire : He seem'd for nothing else design'd , Could nothing else desire . 5. The Father finding this intent Ill with his state agreed , That , living , wanted Six per Cent. Much more than Fame , when dead : 6. Resolv'd to try to cure his Mind , And change his vain Designs , And could no fitter Method find , Than sending him these Lines : Seven wealthy Towns contend for HOMER Dead , Through which the Living HOMER begg'd his Bread. FINIS .