;*.'; U-J ^. iHil-^'^ O ■.TPr/> CD ^ ■v 1 % m . if <_3 i > AWEUNIVERVa o \ i\c iwr r: r ^ ion 11 \V CD ■^ \l-^^ 'mim-m .1? '^^iiJONVsm^'^ .rrtnr\jir\\'^ ,riii^r\j', r^\/v-. ,*! iulATOf Embelli sired witli Ei3gT;i-vino;-s 'Yc uTcUiu-.i.luiia l/it ra *' Are startled at the passing air/' 7 FABLE II. THE PANTHER, HORSE, AND OTHER BEASTS. 1 HE mail who seeks to win the fair, (So custom says) must truth forbear; Must fawn and flatter, cringe and lie, And raise the goddess to the sky ; For truth is liateful to her ear, A rudeness which she cannot bear— A rudeness? — Yes, — I speak my thoughts, For truth upbraids her with her faults. How wretched, chloe, then am T, Who love you, and yet cannot lie; And still, to make you less my friend, I strive your errors to amend ! But shall the senseless fop impart The softest passion to your heart, s While he who tells you honest tiiitfi. And points to happiness your youth, Determines, by his cares, his lot, And lives neglected and forgot ? Trust me, my dear, with greater ease, Your taste for flatt'ry I could please^ And similes m each dull line, Like glow-worms in the dark, should shine. What if I say your lips disclose The freshness of the op'ning rose? Or that your cheeks are beds of flow'rs, Enripen'd by refreshing show'rs? Yet certain as these flow'rs shall fade> Time ev'ry beauty will invade. The BUTTERFLY of various hue. More than the flow'r, resembles you: Fair, flutt'ring, fickle, busy thing, To pleasure ever on the wing, Gayly coquetting for an hour. To die, and ne'er be thought of more. 9 Would you the bloom of youth should last? 'Tis virtue that must bind it fast ; An easy carriage, wholly free From sour reserve, or levity ; Good-natur'd mirth, an open heart, And looks unskill'd in any art; Humility, enough to own The frailties which a friend makes known ; And decent pride, enough to know The worth that virtue can bestow. These are tlie charms which ne'er decay, Tho' youth and beauty fade away ; And time, which all things else removes, Still heightens virtue and improves. You'll frown, and ask to what intent This blunt address to you is sent ; I'll spare the question, and confess I'd praise you, if I lov'd you less; But rail, be angry, or complain, I will be rude, while you are vain. B 2 10 Beneath a lion's peaceful reign, When beasts met friendly on the plain, A PANTHER, of majestic port, (The vainest female of the court) With spotted skin, and eyes of fire, Fill'd ev'ry bosom with desire ; Where'er she mov'd, a servile crowd Of fawning creatures cring'd and bow'd ; Assemblies ev'ry week she held, (Like modern belles) with coxcombs fill'd, Where noise and nonsense, and grimace. And lies and scandal, fill'd the place. Behold the gay, fantastic thing, Encircled by the spacious ring ; Low-bowmg, with important look, As first in rank, the monkey spoke : " Gad take me, madam ! but 1 swear '* No angel ever look'd so fair *' Forgive my rudeness, but, I vow, " You were not quite divine till now j 11 " Those limbs ! that shape ! and then those eyes, " O close them, or the gazer dies!" * Nay, gentle pug, for goodness hush, * I vow and swear you make me blush ; ' I shall be angry at this rate ^ >i Tis so like flatt'ry, which I hate/ The FOX, in deeper cunning vers'd, The beauties of her mind rehears'd, And talk'd of knowledge, t^ste, and sense. To which the fair have most pretence ; Yet well he knew them always vain Of what they strive not to attain, And play'd so cunningly his part. That PUG was rival'd in his art. The GOAT avow'd his am'rous flame, And burnt — for what he durst not name ; Yet hop'd a meeting in the wood Might make his meaning understood. 12 Half angry at the bold address, She fro\vn'd ; but yet she must confess, Such beauties might inflame his blood ; But still his phrase was somewhat rude. The HOG her neatness much admir'd ; The formal ass her swiftness fir'd; While all to feed her folly strove, And by their praises shar'd her love. The HORSE, whose gen'rous heart disdain'd Applause by servile flatt'ry gain'd, With graceful courage silence broke, And thus with indignation spoke: " When flatt'ring monkeys fawn and prate, " They justly raise contempt, or hate; " For merit's turn'd to ridicule, " Applauded by the grimiing fool. *' The artful fox your wit commends, " To lure you to his selfish ends; ffceh^fll .rrutp- J'/f>//l /l/f/Ar /■/'■"■ //I / r/tfiit/M /ri/f ,)cief'n. ^/ //r/ iri'/r/// t j, ///f r'/nii-rf /•'■ ^^ef^i' 13 " From the vile flatf rer turn away, " For knaves make friendship to betray. " Dismiss the train of fops and fools, " And leara to live by wisdom's rules. " Such beauties might the lion warm, " Did not your folly break the charm ; " For who would court that lovely shape, " To be the rival of an ape?" He said ; and snortmg in disdain, Spurn'd at the crowd, and sought the plain. 14 FABLE III. THE NIGHTINGALE AND GLOW-WORM. i. HE prudent nymph, whose cheeks disclose The lily and the blushing rose, From public view her charms will skreen, And rarely in the crowd be seen : This simple truth shall keep her wise, " The fairest fruits attract the flies." One night a glow-worm, proud and vain, Contemplating her glittering train, Cry'd sure there never was in nature, So elegant, so fine a creature ; All other insects that I see, The frugal ANT, industrious bee, 15 Or SILK-WORM, with contempt I view; With all that low, mechanic crew, Who servilely their lives employ In business, enemy to joy. Mean, vulgar herd ! ye are my scorn, For grandeur only I was bom ; Or sure am spnmg from race divine, And plac'd on earth to live and shine. Those lights, that sparkle so on high, Are but the glow-worms of the sky; And kings on earth their gems admire, Because they imitate my fire. She spoke. Attentive on a spray, A NIGHTINGALE forbore his lay; He saw the shining morsel near. And flew, directed by the glare ; Awhile he gaz'd with sober look, And thus the trembling prey bespoke : Deluded fool, with pride elate. Know, 'tis thy beauty brings thy fate ; 16 Less dazzling, long thou migbt'st have lain, Unheeded on the velvet plain ; Pride, soon or late, degraded mourns, And beauty wrecks whom she adorns. •17 FABLE IV. HYMEN AND DEATH. biXTEEN, d'ye say? Nay, then 'tis time; Another year destroys your prime. But stay— The settlement? " That's made." Why then's my simple girl afraid ? Yet hold a moment, if you can, And heedfully the fable scan. The shades were fled, the moniiug blush'd. The winds were in their caverns hush'd, When HYMEN, pensive and sedate. Held o'er the fields his musing gait. Behind him, thro' the green-wood shade. Death's meayre fonu the god sur\'ev'd, Wiio quickly with gigantic stride. Out-went his pace, and join'd his side. 18 The chat on various subjects ran, Till angry hymen thus began: " Relentless death, whose iron sway ** Mortals reluctant must obey, " Still of thy pow'r shall I complain, " And thy too partial hand arraign? ** When CUPID brings a pair of hearts, " All over struck with equal darts, " Thy cruel shafts my hopes deride, " And cut the knot that HYMEN ty'd. " Shall not the bloody, and the bold, " The miser, hoarding up his gold, " The harlot, reeking from the stew, " Alone thy fell revenge pursue? " But must the gentle, and the kind, " Thy fury, undistinguish'd find ?" The monarch calmly thus reply'd : ' Weigh well the cause, and then decide. 19 ' That friend of your's, you lately nam'd, ' CUPID, alone, is to be blam'd; ' Then let the charge be justly laid ; ' That idle boy neglects his trade, * And hardly once in twenty years ' A couple to your temple bears. * The wretches, whom your office blends, ' SiLENUS now, or pluttjs sends; * Hence care, and bitterness, and strife, * Are common to the nuptial life, * Believe me ; more than all mankind, ' Your vot'ries my compassion find. * Yet cruel am I call'd, and base, * Who seek the wretched to release; * The captive from his bonds to free, ' Indissoluble, but for me. * 'Tis I entice him to the yoke ; ' By me your crowded altars smoke ; * For mortals boldly dare the noose, * Secure, that death will set them loose.' 20 FABLE V THE POET AND HIS PATRON. Why, celia, is your spreading waist So loose, so negligently lacVi? Why must the wrapping bed-gown hide Your snowy bosom's swelling pride ? How ill that dress adorns your head, Disdain'd and rumpled from the bed ! Those clouds, that shade your blooming face, A little water might displace, As NATURE every mom bestows The crystal dew to cleanse the rose. Those tresses, as the raven black, Tiiat wav'd in ringlets down your back, Uncomb'd, and injiir'd by neglect, Destroy the face which once they deck'd. 21 Whence this forgetfuhiess of dress! Pray, madam, are you married ? Yes. Nay ! tlien indeed the wonder ceases, No matter now how loose your dress is ; The end is won, your fortune's made, Your sister now may take the trade, Alas ! what pity 'tis to find This fduh in half the female kind ! From hence proceed aversion, strife, And all that sours the wedded life. Beauty can only point the dart, Tis NEATNESS guides it to the heart; Let NEATNESS then, and beauty strive To keep a wav'ring flaiue alive. 'Tis harder far (you'll find it true) To keep the conquest than subdue ; Admit us once beliind the screen, What is there farther to be seen ? ' A newer face may raise the flame. But ev'ry woman is the same. Then study chiefly to improve The charm that fix'd your husband's love; Weigh well his humour. Was it dress That gave your beauty pow'r to bless? Pursue it still; be neater seen, 'Tis always frugal to be clean; So shall you keep alive desire, And time's swift wing shall fan the fire. In garret high (as stories say) A POET sung his tuneful lay; So soft, so smooth his verse, you'd swear Apollo and the muses there; Through all the town his praises rung, His sonnets at the playhouse sung ; High waving o'er his lab'ring head, The goddess want her pinions spread, And with poetic fury fir'd. What PHCEBUS faintly had inspir'd. A noble youth, of taste and wit, Approv'd the sprightly things he writ, 23 Aud sought liim in his cobweb dome, Discharg'd his rent, aud brought him home. Behold him at the stately board, Who but the poet and my lord ! Each day deliciously he dines, And greedy quaffs the gen'rous wines ; His sides were plump, his skin was sleek, And PLENTY wanton'd on his cheek ; Astonish'd at the change so new, Away th' inspiring goddess flew. Now, dropt for politics and news, Neglected lay the drooping muse, Unmindful whence his fortune came. He stifled tlie poetic flame ; Nor tale nor sonnet, for my lady, Lampoon, nor epigram was ready. With just contempt his PATRON saw, (Resolv'd his bounty to withdraw) 24 And thus, with anger in his look, The late-repenting fool bespoke: — " Blind to the good that courts thee grown, " Wlience has the sun of favour shone? " Delighted with thy tuneful art, " Esteem was growing in my heart, " But idly thou reject'st the charm " That gave it birth, and kept it, warm. " Unthinking fools alone despise " The arts that taught them first to rise. ' 25 FABLE VI. THE WOLF, THE SHEEP, AND THE LAMB. -UuTY demands the parent's voice Should sanctify the daughter's choice; In that is due obedience shewn ; To choose belongs to her alone. May horror seize his midnight hour Who builds upon a parent's pow'r, And claims, by purchase vile and base, The loathing maid for his embrace ; Hence virtue sickens, and the breast, Where peace had built her downy nest, Becomes the troubled seat of care, And pines with anguish and despair. A WOLF, rapacious, rough, and bold, Whose nightly plunders thmn'd the fold, c 26 Contemplating his ill-spent life, And cloy'd with thefts, would take a wife. His purpose known, the savage race In num'rous crouds attend the place ; For why, a mighty wolf he was, And held domuiion in his jaws. Her fkv'rite whelp each mother brought, And humbly his aUiance sought j But cold by age, or else too nice. None found acceptance in his eyes. It happen'd, as at early dawn. He, solitary, cross'd the lawn, Stray 'd from the fold, a sportive lamb Skip'd wanton by her fleecy dam ; When CUPID, foe to man and beast, Discharg'd an arrow at his breast. The tim'rous breed the robber knew. And trembling o'er the meadow flew ; Their nimblest speed the wolf overtook, And; courteous, thus the dam bespoke ; 27 Stay, fairest, and suspend your fear, Trust me, no enemy is near; These jaws, in slaughter oft iinbru'd, At length have known enough of blood, And kinder business brings me now, Vanquish'd, at beauty's feet to bow. You have a daughter — Sweet, forgive A wolf's address — In her I live; Love from her eye like lightning came, And set my marrow all on flame; Let your consent confirm my choice, And ratify our nuptial joys. Me ample wealth and j)ow'r attend, Wide o'er the plains my realms extend; What midnight robber dare invade The fold, if I the guard am made? At home the shepherd's cur may sleep, While I secure his master's sheep. Discourse Uke liis attention claim'd; Grandeur the mother's breast inflam'd; Now fearless by his side she walk'd, Of settlements and jointures talk'd; 28 Propos'd and doubled her demands, Of flow'ry fields and turnip lands. Tlie WOLF agrees. — Her bosom swells; To MISS her happy fate she tells; And, of the grand alliance vain. Contemns her kindred of the plain. The loathing lamb with horror hears, And wearies out her dam witli pray'rs. But all in vain; mamma best knew What unexperienc'd girls should do : So, to a neighb'ring meadow carry 'd, A formal ass the couple marry'd. Torn from the tyrant-mother's side, The trembler goes, a victim-bride ; Reluctant meets the rude embrace, And bleats among the howling race. With horror oft her eyes behold Her murder'd kindred of the fold ; Each day a sister-lamb is serv'd, And at the glutton's table carv'd ; 29 The crashing bones he grinds for ibod, And slakes his thirst with streaming blood. Love, who the cruel mind detests, And lodges but in gentle breasts, Was now no more. — Enjoyment past, The savage hunger'd for the feast; But (as we find in human i-ace, A mask conceals the villain's face) Justice must authorize the treat : Till then he long'd, but durst not eat. As forth he walk'd, in quest of prey. The hunters met him on the way; Fear wings his flight ; the marsh he sought, The snuffing dogs are set at fault. His stomach baulk'd, now hunger gnaws, Howling he grinds his empty jaws; Food must be had — and lamb is m'eh; His maw invokes the fraudful lie. Is this, dissembling rage, he ci-j'd, The gentle virtue of a bride ? 30 That, leagu'd with man's destroying race^ She sets her husband for the chase? By treach'ry prompts the noisy hound To scent his footsteps o'er tlie ground ? Thou trait'itss vile, for this thy blood Shall glut my rage, and dye the wood ! So saying, on the LAMB he flies: Beneath his jaws the victim dies. 31 FABLE VII. THE GOOSE AND THE SWANS. 1 HATE the face, liowe\'tr fair. That carries an affected air ; The hsping tone, the shape constrain'd, The study'd look, the passion feign'd, Are fopperies, whicli only tend To injure what they strive to mend. With what superior grace enchants The face which nature's pencil paints! Where eyes, unexercis'd in art, Glow with the meaning of the heart! Where FREEDOM and good-humour sit, And easy gaiety and wit! Though perfect beauty be not there, The master lines, the fiuish'd air, 3^2 We catch from every look delight^ And grow enamour'd at the sight ; For beauty, though we all approve, Excites our wonder more than love; While the agreeable strikes sure, And gives the wounds we cannot cure. Why then, my amoret, this care, That forms you, in effect, less fair? If NATURE on your cheek bestows A bloom that emulates the rose, Or from some heav'nly image drew A form APELjiEs never knew. Your ill-judg'd aid will you impart, And spoil by meretricious art? Or had you, nature's error, come Abortive from the mother's womb. Your forming care she still rejects, Which only heightens her defects. When such, of glitt'ring jewels proud, Still press the foremost in the crowds. London: t'uMi.'lu\t %)■ ScatchrrJ ,i- IjMrrmM , Ave Jlana l.iwe 33 At every public shew are seen, With look awry, and aukward mien, The gaudy dress attracts the eye, And maguities deformity. Nature may underdo her part. But seldom wants the help of art ; Trust her, she is your surest friend. Nor made your form for you to mend. A GOOSE, affected, empty, vain, The shrillest of the cackling tram, With proud and elevated crest. Precedence claim'd above the rest. Says she, I laugh at human race. Who say, geese hobble in their pace ; Look here ! — the sland'rous lie detect ; Not haughty man is so erect. That PEACOCK yonder, lord, how vain The creature's of his gaudy train ! If both were stript, I'd pawn my word, A GOOSE would be the finer bird. C 2 34 Nature, to hide her own defects, Her bungled work with fin'ry decks ; Were geese set off with half that show.. Would men admire the peacock ? No. Thus vaunting, 'cross the mead she stalks. The cackluig breed attend her walks. The SUN shot down his noontide beams, The SWANS were sporting in the streams ; Their snowy plumes, and stately pride, Provoke her spleen. Why, there, she cry'd,. Again what arrogance we see ! Those creatures ! how they mimic me ! Shall ev'ry fowl the waters skim. Because we geese are known to swim? Humility they soon shall learn, And their own emptiness discern. So saying, with extended wings, Lightly upon the wave she springs ; Her bosom swells, she spreads her plumes. And the swan's stately crest assumes. 35 Contempt and mockery ensu'd, And bursts of laughter shook the flood. A SWAN, superior to the rest, Sprung forth, and thus tlie fool address'd : Conceited thing! elate with pride, Thy affectation all deride ; These airs thy aukwardness impart, And shew thee plainly as thou art. Among thy equals of the flock. Thou hadst escap'd the public mock. And, as thy parts to good conduce. Been deem'd an honest hobbling GOOSE. Learn hence to study wisdom's rules; Know, foppery's the pride of fools; And striving nature to conceal, You only her defects reveal. 36 FABLE Vlir. THE LAWYER AND JVSTICE. -LovE: thou dhinest good below. Thy pure delights few mortals know : Our rebel hearts thy sway disown. While tyrant lust usurps thy throne! The boimteous god of nature made; The sexes for each other's aid, Their mutual talents to employ. To lessen ills, and heighten joy. To weaker woman he assigu'd That soft'ning sentleness of mind. That can by sympathy impart Its likeness to the roughest heart. Her eves with magic pow'r eudu'd. To fire the dull, and awe the rude. 37 His rosy fingers on her face Shed la\isli ev'ry blooming grace, And stamp'd (pertection to display) His mildest image on her clay, Man, active, resolute, and bold. He fashion'd in a difF'reut mould ; With useful arts his mind inform'd, Ris breast with nobler passions warm'd ; He gave him knowledge, taste, and sense, And courage for the fair's defence. Her frame, resistless to each wrong. Demands protection from the strong ; To man she flies, when fear alarms, And claims the temple of his arms. By nature's author thus declar'd The woman's sov'rcign and her guard : Shall man, by treacli'rous wiles invade The weakness he was meant to aid ? While beauty, given to inspire Protecting love and soft desire. 38 Lights up a wild-fire in the heart. And to its own breast points the dart, Becomes the spoiler's base pretence To triumph over innocence ! The wolf, that tears the timorous sheep, Was never set the fold to keep ; Nor was the tiger, or the pard, Meant the benighted trav'ller's guard: But man, the wildest beast of prey. Wears friendship's semblance to betray; His strength against the weak employs, And where he should protect, destroys. Past twelve o'clock, the watchman cry'd, His brief the studious LAWYER ply'd; The all-prevailing fee lay nigh, The earnest of to-morrow's lie ; Sudden the furious winds arise. The jarring casement shatter'd flies; The doors admit a hollow sound. And rattling froni their hinges bound ; 39 When JUSTICE, iii a blaze of light, Reveal'd her radiant form to sight. The wretch with thrilling horror shook, Loose ev'ry joint, and pale his look, Not having seen her in the courts, Or found her mentioned in reports, He ask'd, with falt'ring tongue, her name. Her errand there, and whence she came? Sternly the white-rob'd shade reply 'd, (A crimson glow her visage dy'd) Canst thou be doubtful who I am ? Is JUSTICE grown so strange a name? Were not your courts for justice rais'd? 'Twas there of old my altars blaz'd. My guardian thee did I elect, My sacred temple to protect ; That thou, and all thy venal tribe. Should spurn the goddess for a bribe ! Aloud the ruin'd client cries, Justice has neither ears nor eyes! 40 In foul alliance with the bar, 'Gainst me the judge denounces war, And rarely issues his decree, But with intent to batfle me. She paus'd. Her breast with fury burn'd; The trembling lawyer thus return'd: I own the charge is justly laid, And weak tb' excuse that can be made ; Yet search the spacious globe, and see If all mankind are not like me. The GOWN-MAN, skill'd in romish lies, By faith's false glass deludes our eyes ; O'er conscience rides without controul. And robs the man, to save his soul. The DOCTOR, with important face, By sly design mistakes the case ; Prescribes, and spins out the disease, To trick the patient of his fees. — The SOLDIER, rough with many a scar, And red with slaughter, leads the war ; mutr dtl^ W.TnyJ^r saOp*. Zon^ien J'uhlished Junr 'j^ I^OQ ^V THi^tinstOjS llcfhi'm 41 If he a nation's trust betray, The foe has ofFer'd double pay. When vice o'er all mankind prevails, ^Vnd weighty iut'rest turns the scales^ Must I be better than the rest. And harbour justice in my breast? On one side only take the fee, Content with poverty and thee ? Thou bluid to sense, and vile of mind, Th' exasperated shade rejoin'd, If virtue from the world is flown, Will others faults excuse thy own ? For sickly souls the priest was made ; Physicians for the body's aid ; The SOLDIER guarded liberty; Man, woman, and the lawyer me : If all are faithless to their trust. They leave not thee the less unjust. Henceforth your pleadings I disclaim^ And bar the sanction of my name ; 42 Within your courts it shall be read. That JUSTICE from the law is fled. She spoke ; and hid in shades her face, 'Till HARDWICK sooth'd her into grace. 43 FABLE IX. THE FARMER, THE SPANIEL, AND THE CAT, VV HY knits my dear her angry brow? What rude offence alarms you now ? I said, that Delia's f^ir; 'tis true, But did I say she equall'd you ? Can't I another's face commend, Or to her virtues be a friend, But uistantly your forehead lours, As if her merit lessen'd your's? From female em'y never free. All must be blind, because you see. Survey the gardens, fields, and bow'rs. The buds, the blossoms, and the flow'rs, Then tell me where the woodbine grows That vies in sweetness with the rose ? Or where the lily's snow}' white. That throws such beauties on the sight? Yet folly is it to declare, Tliat these are neither sweet nor fair. The crystal shines with fainter rays Before the di'mond's brighter blaze ; And fops will say, the di'niond dies Before the lustre of your eyes; But I, who deal in truth, deny That neither shine when you are by. I Wlien zephyrs o'er the blossoms stray, And sweets along the air convey, Shan't I the fragrant breeze inhale, Because you breathe a sweeter gale? Sweet are the flow'rs that deck the field, Sweet is the smell the blossoms yield ; Sweet is the summer gale that blows, And sweet (though sweeter you) the rose. Shall envy then torment your breast, If you are lovelier than the rest ? For while I give to each her due, By praising them I flatter you; 45 Aiid praising most, I still declare You fairest, where the rest are fail-. As at his board a farmer sate, Replenish'd by his homely treat, His fav'rite spaniel near him stood, And with his master shar'd the food ; The crackhng bones his jaws devour'd, His lapping tongue the trenchers scoiu'd; Till, sated now, supine he lay, And snor'd the rishig fumes away. The hungry cat, in turn, drew near, And humbly crav'd a servant's share ; Her modest worth the master knew, And straight the fatt'ning morsel threw; Enrag'd, the snarhng cur awoke, And thus, with spiteful envy, spoke: They only claim a right to eat, Who earn by services their meat; Me, zeal and industiy inflame, To scour the fields, and spring the game : 46 Or, plunged in the wat'ry wave, For man the wounded bird to save. With watchful dihgence I keep, From pro\\hng wolves, his fleecy sheep j At home, his midnight hours secure, And drive the robber from tlie door. For this his breast witl) kindness glows; For this his hand the food bestows ; And shall thy indolence impart A warmer friendsliip to his heart ; That thus he robs me of my due, To pamper such vile things as you ? I own (with meekness, puss reply 'd) Superior merit on your side; Nor dees my breast with envy swell, To find it recompens'd so well ; Yet I, in what my nature can, Contribute to the good of man. Whose claws destroy the pilf'ring mouse? Who drives the vermin from the house? Or, watchful for the lab 'ring swain. From lurkujg rats secure the grain ? 47 From hence, if he rewards bestow, Why sliould your heart with gall o'erflow? Wiiy pine my happiness to see, Since there's enough for you and me? Thy words are just, the farmer cry'd, And spum'd the snarler from his side. 43 FABLE X. THE SPIDER AND THE BEE. -I HE nymph who walks the pubhc streets, And sets her cap at all she meets. May catch the fool who turns to stare; But men of sense avoid the snai'e. As on the margm of the flood, With silken line, my lydia stood, I smil'd to see the pains you took, To cover o'er the fraudful hook. Along the forest as we stray 'd, You saw the boy his lime-twigs spread ; Guess'd you the reason of his fear, Lest, heedless, we approach'd too near? For as behind the bush we lay. The linnet flutter'd on the spray. 49 Needs there such caution to delude The scaly fry, aiid feather'd brood? And think you, with inferior art, To captivate the human heart? The maid who modestly conceals Her beauties, while she hides, reveals ; Give but a glimpse, and fancy draws Whate'er the Grecian venus was. From eve's first fig-leaf to brocade, All dress was meant for fancy's aid, Which evermore delighted dwells On what the bashful nymph conceals. When CELiA struts in man's attire, She shews too much to raise desire ; But from the hoop's bewitching round, Her very shoe has power to wound. The roving eye, the bosom bare, The forward laugh, the wanton air, May catch the fop, for gudgeons strike At the bare hook, and bait, alike ; D 1i 60 While SALMON play regardless by; Till ART, like NATURE, forms the fly. Beneath a peasant's homely thatch, A SPIDER long had held her watch; From mom to night, with restless care, She spun her web, and wove her snare. Within the limits of her reign Lay many a hidden captive, slain ; Or, fluttering, struggled in the toils To burst the chains, and shun her wiles. A straying bee, that perch'd hard by, Beheld her with disdainful eye ; And thus began : — Mean thing ! give o'er, And lay thy slender threads no more; A thoughtless fly or two, at most, Is all the conquest thou canst boast; For BEES of sense thy arts evade, We see so plain the nets are laid. The gaudy tulip, tliat displays Her spreading foliage to the gaze, 51 That points her charms at all she sees. And yields to ev'i-y wanton breeze, Attracts not me. Where blushing grows, Guarded with thorns, the modest rose, Enamour'd round and round I fly, Or on her fragrant bosom lie ; Reluctant, she my ardour meets, And, bashful, renders up her sweets. To wiser heads attention lend, And learn this lesson from a friend : She, who with modesty retires, Adds fuel to her lover's fires; While such incautious jilts as you, By folly your own schemes undo. 52 FABLE XL THE YOL'NG LION AND THE APE. X IS true, I blarae your lover's choice, Tlio' fliitter'd by the pubHc voice, And peevish grow, and sick, to hear His exclamations, O how fair! I listen not to wild delights, And transports of expected nights ; What is to me your hoard of charms, The whiteness of your neck and arms ? Needs there no acquisition more, To keep contention from the door? Yes ! pass a fortnight, and you'll find All beauty cloys but of the mind. Sense and good humour ever prove The surest cords to fasten love. 53 Yet, PHiLLis, simplest of your sex, You never think, but to perplex ; Coquetting it with ev'ry ape, That struts abroad in human shape ; Not that the coxcomb is your taste, But that it stings your lover's breast. To-morrow you resign the sway, Prepar'd to honour and obey ; The tyrant-mistress chaug'd for life To the submission of a wife. Your follies, if you can, suspend. And learn instructions from a friend. Reluctant hear the first address, Think often, ere you answer, yes ; But once resolv'd, throw off disguise, And wear your wishes in your eyes. With caution ev'ry look forbear, That might create one jealous fear, A lover's rip'ning hopes confound, Or give the gen'rous breast a wound; Contemn the girlish arts to teaze, Nor use your pow'r unless to please ; 54 For fools alone with rigour sway, When, soon or late, they must obey. The KING OF BRUTES, in life's decline^ Resolv'd dominion to resign : The beasts were sumraon'd to appear, And bend before the royal heir. They came ; a day was fix'd ; the crowd Before tlieir future monarch bow'd. A dapper monkey, pert and vain, Step'd forth, and thus address'd the train : Why cringe, my friends, with slavish awe, Before this pageant king of straw ? Shall we anticipate the hour. And, ere we feel it, own his pow'r? The counsels of experience prize, I know the maxims of the wise; Subjection let us cast away, And live the monarchs of to-day ; 55 . 'Tis ours the vacant liand to spurn, And play the tyrant each hi turn ; So shall he right from wrong discern, And mercy, from oppression, learn ; At others woes be taught to melt, And loath the ills himself has felt. He spoke; his bosom swell'd with pride, The youthful lion thus reply 'd: What madness prompts thee to provoke My wrath, and dare th' impending stroke? Thou wretched fool ! can wrongs impart Compassion to the feeling heart? Or teach the grateful breast to glow, The hand to give, or eye to flow ? Learn'd in the practice of their schools, From woman thou hast drawn thy rules ; To them return, m such a cause. From only such expect applause ; The partial sex I don't condemn, For liking those who copy them. 56 Would'st thou the gen'rous lion bind. By kmdness bribe him to be kind ; Good offices their hkeness get, And payment lessens not the debt : With multiplying hand he gives The good from others he receives ; Or for the bad makes fair return, And pays, with int'rest, scorn for scorn» 57 FABLE XII. THE COLT AND THE FARMER. 1 ELL me, CORINNA, if you can, Why so averse, so coy, to man? Did NATURE, lavish of her care, From her best pattern form you fair, That you, ungrateful to her cause, Should mock her gifts, and spurn her laws? And, miser-like, withhold that store. Which, by imparting, blesses more? Beauty's a gift, by heav'n assign'd, The portion of the female kind ; For this the yielding maid demands Protection at her lover's hands ; And though, by wasting years, it fade, Remembrance tells him, once 'twas paid. D 2 58 And will you then this wealth conceal. For AGE to rust, or time to steal? The summer of your youth to rove, A stranger to the joys of love ? Then, when life's winter hastens on, And youth's fair heritage is gone, Dow'rless to court some peasant's arras, To guard your wither'd age from harms? No gratitude to warm his breast. For blooming beauty once possess'd ; How will you curse that stubborn pride, Which drove your bark across the tide } And, sailing before folly's wind, Left sense and happiness behind ! CoRiNNA, lest these whims prevail, To such as you I write my tale. A COLT, for blood and mettled speed, The choicest of the running breed, Of youthful strength and beauty vain, Refus'd subjection to the rein ; 59 In vain the groom's officious skill Oppos'd his pride, and check'd his will; In vain the master's forming care, Restrain'd with threats, or sooth'd with pray'r; Of freedom proud, and scorning man, Wide o'er the spacious plains he ran. Where'er luxuriant nature spread Her flow'ry carpet o'er the mead, Or bubbling streams, soft gliding, pass To cool and freshen up the grass ; Disdaining bounds, he cropp'd the blade, And wanton'd in the spoil he made. In plenty thus the summer pass'd, Revolving winter came at last ; The trees no more a shelter yield ; The verdure withers from the field ; Perpetual snows invest the ground, In icy chains the streams are bound, Cold nipping winds, and rattling hail, His lank, unshelter'd sides assail. 60 As round he cast his rueful eycs^ He saw the thatch-roof d cottage rise ; The prospect touch'd his heart with cheer^ And promis'd kind deliv'rance near. A stable, erst his scorn and hate, Was now become his wish'd retreat ; His passion cool, his pride forgot, A farmer's welcome yard he sought. The master saw his woeful plight, His limbs, that totter'd with his weight, And friendly to the stable led, And saw liira litter'd, dress'd, and fed. In slothful ease all night he lay; The servants rose at break of day ; The market calls.— Along the road His back must bear the pond'rous load ; In vain he struggles, or complains — Incessant blows reward his pains. To-morrow varies but his toil ; Cliain'd to the plough he breaks the soil : 61 While scanty meals at night repay The painful labours of the day. Subdu'd by toil, with anguish rent, His self-upbraidings found a vent. Wretch that I am ! he sighing said. By arrogance and folly led ; Had but my restive youth been brought To learn the lesson nature taught, Then had I, like my sires of yore, The prize from ev'ry courser bore ; While man bestovv'd rewards and praise, And females crown'd my latter days. Now lasting servitude's my lot. My birth contemn'd, my speed forgot; Doom'd am I, for my pride, to bear A living death from year to year. 62 FABLE XIII. THE OWL AND THE NIGHTINGALE. To know the mistress's humour right, See if her maids are clean and tight, If BETTY waits without her stays, She copies but her lady's ways; When MISS comes in with boist'rous shout, And drops no court'sey going out, Depend upon't, mamma is one Wiio reads, or drinks, too much alone. If bottled beer her thirst assuage, She feels enthusiastic rage, And bums with ardour to inherit The gifts and workings of the spirit. If learning crack her giddy brains. No remedy but death remains. 63 Sum up the various ills of life. And all are sweet to such a wife. At home, superior wit she vaunts, And twits her husband with his \vants; Her ragged offspring all around. Like pigs, are wallowing on the ground. Impatient ever of controul, And knows no order but of soul ; With books her litter'd floor is spread. With nameless authors never read ; Foul linen, petticoats, and lace, Fill up the intermediate space. Abroad, at visitings, her tongue Is never still, and always wrong; All meanings she defines away, And stands with truth and sense at bay. If e'er she meets a gentle heart, Skill'd in the housewife's usefiil art; Who makes her family her care. And builds contentment's temple there ; 64 She starts at such mistakes in nature, And cries, LORD help us ! what a creature ! Mehssa, if the moral strike, You'll find the fable not unlike. An OWL, pufF'd up with self-conceit, Lov'd learning better than his meat ; Old manuscripts he treasur'd up, And rummag'd ev'ry grocer's shop ; At pastry-cooks was known to ply, And strip, for science, ev'rj' pie. For modern poetry and wit, He had read all that blackmore writ. So intimate with CURL was grown. His learned treasures were his own ; To all his authors had access, And sometimes would conect the press. In logic he acquir'd such knowledge. You'd swear him fellow of a college. Alike to ev'ry art and science. His daring genius bid defiance, 65 And swallow'd wisdom with that haste That cits do custards at a feast. Within the shelter of a wood, One evening, as he musing stood, Flard by, upon a leafy sprav, A NIGHTINGALE began his lay ; Sudden he starts, witli anger stung, - And, screecliiug, interrupts the song. Pert, busy thing ! thy airs give o'er, And let my contemplation soar — What is the music of thy voice, But jarring dissonance and noise? Be wise— True harmony thoult find Not in the throat, but in the mind ; By empty chirping not attain'd. But by laborious study gain'd. Go, read the authors pope explodes. Fathom the depth of gibber's odes; With modern plays improve thy wt^ Read all the learning henley writ. 66 And if thou needs must sing, sing then. And emulate the ways of men : So shalt thou grow, like me, refin'd, And bring improvement to thy kind. Thou wretch ! the little warbler cry'd, Made up of ignorance and pride ; Ask all the birds, and they'll declare A greater blockhead wings not air. Read o'er thyself, thy talents scan, Science was only meant for man. No senseless authors me molest, I mind the duties of my nest; With careful wing protect my young, And cheer their ev'nings with a song; Make short the weary trav'ller's way, And warble in the poet's lay. Thus, following nature, and her laws. From men and birds I claim applause, While, nurs'd in pedantry and sloth. An OWL is scorn'd alike by both. b FABLE XIV. THE SPARROW AND THE DOVE. It was, as leam'd traditions say, Upon an April's blithsome day, When PLEASURE, ever on the wing, Retum'd, companion of the spring, ' And cheer'd the birds with ani'rous beat, Instructing httle hearts to beat; A SPARROW, froHc, gay, and young, Of bold address, and flippant tongue, Just left his lady of a night. Like him, to follow new delight. The youth, of many a conquest vain. Flew off to seek the chirping train ; The cliirpiug train he quickly found. And with a saucy ease bow'd round. 68 For every slie his bosom burns, And this, and that, he woos by turns; And here a sigh, and there a bill, And here — those eyes! so form'd to kill! And now, with ready tongue, he strings Unmeaning, soft, resistless things; With vows, and dem-nie's, skill'd to woo,. As other pretty fellows do. Not that he thought this short essay A prologue needful to his play ; No, trust me, says our learned letter. He knew the virtuous sex much better; But these he held as specious arts, To shew his own superior parts. The form of decency to shield. And give a just pretence to yield. Thus finishing his courtly play. He mark'd the fav'rite of a day; With careless impudence drew near, And whisper'd Hebrew in her ear; 1= • 69 A hint which, Hke the mason's si"n. The conscience can alone divuie. The flutt'ring nymph, expert at feigning, Cry'd, " Sir, pray sir, explain your nieanin«^ ' " Go prate to those that may endure ye— " To me this rudeness! I'll assure ye!" Then off she glided like a swallo^^', As sayuig — ^j'ou guess where to follow. To such as know the party set, 'Tis needless to say where they met ; The parson's barn, as authors mention, Confess'd the fair had apprehension. Her honour there, secure from stain, She held all farther trifling vain ; No more affected to be coy. But rush'd, licentious, on the joy. ' Hist, love!' the male companion cry'd, * Retire awhile, I fear we're 'spy'd :' 70 Nor was the caution vain ; he saw A TURTLE rustling in the straw, While o'er her callow brood she hung, And fondly thus address'd her young : " Ye tender objects of my care ! " Peace, peace, ye Ihtle helpless pair ; " Anon he comes, your gentle sire, " And brings you all your hearts require. *' For us, his infants and his bride, " For us, with only love to guide, " 0»ir lord assumes an eagle's speed, " And, like a LION, dares to bleed. " Nor yet by wintry skies confin'd, " He mounts upon the rudest wind, " From danger tears the vital spoil, " And with affection sweetens toil. " Ah ! cease, too vent'rous — cease to dare, " In thine, our dearer safety spare ! " From him, ye cruel falcons, stray; " And turn, ye fowlers, far away. 71 *' Should I survive to see the day, " That tears me from myself away; " That cancels all that heav'n could give, " The life, by which alone I live ; " Alas ! how more than lost were I, " Who m the thought already die! " Ye pow'rs, who^ men and birds obey, '' Great rulers of your creatures, say, " Why mouruiiig comes, by bliss convey 'd, " And ev'n the sweets of love allay'd? " Wlxere grows enjoyment, tall and fair, " Around it twines entanulini; care ; " While fear, for what our souls possess, " Enervates ev'ry pow'r to bless; " Yet FRIENDSHIP forms the bhss above, " And LIFE, what art thou, without love?"- Our HERO, who had heard apart, Felt something moving in his heart ; But quickly, with disdain, suppress'd The virtue rismg in his breast ; 72 And, first, he feign'd to laugli aloud. And next, approaching, smil'd and bow'd. * Madam, you must not thhik me rude, ' Good manners never can intrude ; ' I vow I came through pure good-nature ; * (Upon my soul a charming creature!) ' Are these the comforts of a wife ? ' This careful, cloister'd, moping life ? ' No doubt, that odious thing, call'd duty, ' Is a sweet province for a beauty. * Thou pretty ignorance ! thy will ' Is measur'd to thy want of skill; ' That good old-fashion'd dame, thy mother, ' Has taught thy infant years no other. * The greatest ill in the creation ' Is, sure, the want of education ! * But think ye (tell me without feigning) * Have all these charms no farther meaning? * Dame nature, if you don't forget her, ' Might teach your ladyship much better. 73 ' For shame, reject this mean employment, ' Enter the world, and taste enjoyment; ' Where tune, by circling bliss we measure, * Beauty was form'd alone for pleasure ; ' Come, prove the blessing, follow me ; ' Be wise, be happy, and be free.' " Kind sir," reply'd our MATRON chaste, " Your zeal seems pretty much in haste; " I own the fondness to be blest, *' Is a deep thirst in every breast ; " Of blessings too I have my store, " Yet quarrel not, should heav'n give more ; *' Then prove the change to be expedient, " And think me, sir, your most obedient." Here turning, as to one inferior. Our gallant spoke, and smil'd superior: * Methinks, to quit your boasted station ' Requires a world of hesitation ; ' Where brats and bonds are held a blessing, * The case, I doubt, is past redressing : E • 74 * Wliy, child, suppose the joys I mention ' Were the mere fruits of my invention, * You've cause sufficient for your carriage, * In flying from the curse of marriage ; ' That sly decoy, with vary'd snares, ' That takes your widgeons in by pairs ; * Alike to husband, and to wife, * The cure of love, and bane of life; * The only method of forecasting ' To make misfortune firm and lasting ; ' The sin, by heav'n's peculiar sentence, ' Unpardon'd, through a life's repentance. * It is the double snake, that weds ' A common tail to difF'rent heads ; * That leads the carcase still astray, ' By dragging each a diff'rent way. * Of all the ills that may attend me, ' From marriage, mighty gods, defend me! ' Give me frank nature's wild demesne, ' And boundless tract of air serene, 75 * Where fancy, ever wiug'd for cliange, ' Delights to sport, delights to range! * There, liberty! to thee is owing * Whate'er of bliss is worth bestowing j * Delights, still vary'd, and divine, ' Sweet goddess of the hills ! are thine. ' What say you now, you pretty pink, you? ' Have I, for once, spoke reason, think you ? ' You take me now for no romancer — ' Come, never study for an answer ; ' Away, cast ev'ry care behind ye, ' And fly where joy alone shall find ye.' " Soft yet," retuni'd our female fencer, " A question more, or so — and then, sir. " You've rallied me with sense exceeding, " With much fine wit, and better breeding; " But pray, sir, how do you contrive it? " Do those of your world never wive it r" No, no,' " How then?" < Why dare I tell ' What does the business full as well.' 76 " Do you ne'er love?" ' An hour at leisure/ " Have you no friendship ?" ' Yes, for pleasure.' " No care for little ones?" ' We get 'em; * The rest the mothers mind, and let 'em.' " Thou wretch!" rejoin'd the kindling dove, " Quite lost to life, as lost to love! " Whene'er misfortunes come, how just! " And come, misfortune surely must; " In the dread season of dismay, " In that your hour of trial, say, " Who then sliall prop your sinking heart? " Who bear affliction's weightier part? " Say, wlien the black-brow'd welkin bends, " And winter's gloomy form impends, " To mourning turns all transient cheer, " And blasts the melancholy year; " For times at no persuasion stay, " Nor vice can find perpetual may ; " Then where's that tongue, by folly fed, *' That soul of pertuess, whither fled? 77 ** All shrunk within thy lonely nest, " Forlorn, abandon'd, and unbless'dj ^ " No friends, by cordial bonds ally'd, *' Shall seek thy cold unsocial side ; " No chirping prattlers to delight, " Shall turn the long-enduring night; " No bride her words of balm impart, " And warm thee at her constant heart. " Freedom, restrain'd by reason's force, *' Is as the sun's unvarying course, " Benignly active, sweetly bright, " Affording warmth, affording light; " But torn from virtue's sacred rules, *' Becomes a comet, gaz'd by fools, " Forebodmg cares, and storms, and strife, *' And fraught with all the plagues of life. " Thou fool! by union every creature " Subsists, through universal nature ; " And this, to beings void of mind, " Is wedlock of a meaner kind. •^8 " While womb'd in space, primeval clay <' A yet unfashion'd embryo lay; *' The source of endless good above " Shot down his spark of kindling love ; " Touch'd by the all-enliv'ning flame, *' Then motion first exulting came, " Each atom sought its separate class, " Through many a fair enamour'd mass; " Love cast tlie central charm around, " And with eternal nuptials bound. " Then FORM and ORDER, o'er the sky " First train'd their bridal pomp on high ; " The SUN display'd his orb to sight, " And burn'd with hymeneal Uglit. *&' " Hence nature's virgin womb conceiv'd, " And with the genial burthen heav'd; " Forth came the oak, her first born heir, " And scal'd the breathing steep of air; " Then infant stems, of various use, " Imbib'd her soft maternal juice. 79 '' The flow'is, in early bloom disclos'd, *' Upon her fragrant breast repos'd; " Within her warm embraces grew " A race, of endless form and hue; " Then pour'd her lesser offspring round, " And fondly cloth'd their parent ground. " Nor here alone the virtue reign'd, *' By matter's cumb'rous form detain'd, " But thence, subliming, and refin'd, " Aspir'd, and reach'd its kindred mind. " Caught in the fond celestial fire, " The mind perceiv'd unknown desire; " And now with kind effusion flow'd, " And now with cordial ardours glow'd, " Beheld the sympathetic fair, " And lov'd its own resemblance there ; " On all, with circling radiance, shone, *' But, cent'ruag, fix'd on one alone; " There clasp'd the heav'n-appointed wife, " And doubled every joy of life. 80 " Here, ever blessing, ever blest, " Resides this beauty of the breast; " As from his palace here the god " Still beams eftulgcnt bliss abroad ; " Here gems his own eternal round " The ring by which the world is bound; " Here bids his seat of empire grow, " And builds his little heav'n below. " The bridal partners thus ally'd, " And thus in sweet accordance tied, ** One body, heart, and spirit live, ' *' Enrich'd by ev'ry joy they give; *' Like ECHO, from her vocal hold, *' Return'd in music twenty-fold. " Their union firm, and imdecay'd, *' Nor TIME can shake, nor pow'r invade; " But, as the stem and scion stand " Ingrafted by a skilful hand, " They check the tempest's wintry rage, " And bloom and strengthen into age. 81 " A thousand amities unknown, *' And pow'rs, perceiv'd by love alone ; " Endearing looks, and chaste desire, " Fan and support the mutual fire, " Whose flame, perpetual as refin'd, " Is fed by an immortal mind. " Nor yet the nuptial sanction ends, " Like NILE, it opens and descends, " Which, by apparent windings led, " We trace to its celestial head. " Tlie sire, first springing from above, " Becomes the source of life and love, " And gives his filial heir to flow, " In fondness down on sons below ; " Thus roU'd in one continu'd tide, " To time's extremest verge they glide; " While kindred streams, on either hand, *' Branch forth in blessings o'er the land. " Thee, wretch ! no lisping babe shall name, " No late-returning brother claim; E2 82 " No kinsman on thy road rejoice, " No sister greet thy ent'ring voice; *' With partial eyes no parent see, " And bless their years restor'd in thee. " In age rejected, or declin'd, " An ALIEN ev'n among thy kind, " The partner of thy scorn'd embrace " Shall play the wanton in thy face ; " Each spark unplume thy little pride, *' All friendship fly thy faithless side ; " Thy name shall, like thy carcase, rot, *' In sickness spum'd, in death forgot. *' All-giving pow'r! great source of life! *' O hear the parent! hear the wife ! " That life thou lendest from above, " Though little, make it large in love; " O bid my feelhig heart expand " To ev'ry claim, on ev'ry hand; " To those, from whom my days I drew, " To these in whom those days renew; 83 " To all my kin, however wide, " In cordial warmth, as blood ally'd,^ " To friends with steely fetters twin'd, " And to the cruel, not unkind! " But chief, the lord of my desire, " My life, myself, my soul, my sire; " Friends, children, all that wish can claim, " Chaste passion clasp, and rapture name! " O spare him, spare him, gracious pow'r! " O give him to my latest hour ! " Let me my length of life employ, " To give my sole enjoyment joy; " His love, let mutual love excite, " Turn all my cares to his delight, " And ev'ry needless blessing spare, " Wherein my darling wants a share. " When he with graceful action woos, " And sweetly bills and fondly coos, " Ah ! deck me to his eyes alone, " With charms attractive as his own, " And in my circling wings caress'd, " Give all the lover to my breast. . 84 " Tlien in our chaste, connubial bed, " My bosom pillow'd for his head, " His eyes with bhssful slumbers close, " And watch, with me, my lord's repose ; " Your peace around his temples twine, " And love him with a love like mine. " And, for I know his gen'rous flame, " Beyond whate'er my sex can claim, " Me, too, to your protection take, " And spare me for my husband's sake;. ** Let one unruffled calm delight " The loving and belov'd unite; " One pure desire our bosoms warm, " One will direct, one wish hiform ; " Through life one mutual aid sustain, "In death one peaceful grave contain." While, swelling with the darling theme. Her accents pour'd an endless stream, The well-known wings a sound impart. That reach'd her ear, and touch'd her heart; 85 Quick dropp'd the music of her tongue. And forth, with eager joy, she sprung ; As swift her ent'ring consort flew, And pluni'd and kindled at the view ; Tlieir wings, their souls, embracing meet, Their hearts with answ'ring measure beat ; Half lost in sacred sweets, and bless'd With raptures felt, but ne'er express'd. Straight to her humble roof she led The partner of her spotless bed ; Her young, a tlutt'ring pair, arise. Their welcome sparkling in their eyes, Transported, to their sire they bound. And hang with speechless action round. In pleasure wrapt, the parents stand. And see their little wings expand ; The sire, his life-sustaining prize To each ex[)ecting bill applies ; There fondly pours the whcaten spoil, With transport giv'n, though won with toil ; 86 While all collected at the sight, And silent, through supreme delight, The FAIR high heaven of bliss beguiles, And on her lord and infants smiles. The SPARROW, whose attention hung Upon the dove's enchanting tongue. Of all his little slights disarm'd, And from himself by virtue charm'd, When now he saw, what only seem'd, A fact, so late a fable deem'd ; His soul to envy he resign'd, His hours of folly to the wind; In secret wish'd a turtle too, And, sighing to himself, withdrew. 87 FABLE XV THE FEMALE SEDUCERS. 1 IS said of WIDOW, maid, and wife, That honour is a woman's Hfe; Unhappy sex! who only claim A being in the breath of fame, Which, tainted, not the quick'ning gales That sweep sab.?:a's spicy vales. Nor all the healing sweets restore, That breathe along Arabia's shore. The trav'ller, if he chance to stray, May turn micensur'd to his way ; Polluted streams again are pure. And deepest wounds admit a cure. 88 But woman! no redemption knows, The wounds of honour never close. Tho' distant ev'ry hand to guide, Nor skill'd on Hfe's tempestuous tide, If once her feeble bark recede, Or deviate from the course decreed, In vain she seeks the friendly shore. Her swifter folly flies before ; The circluig ports against her close, And shut the wand'rer from repose. Till by conflicting waves opprest. Her found'ring pinnace sinks to rest. Are there no ofF'rings to atone For but a single error? — None! Tho' WOMAN is avow'd of old No daughter of celestial mould; Her temp'ring not without allay. And form'd but of the finer clay ; We challenge from the mortal dame, The strength angelic natures claim; 89 Nay more— for sacred stories tell That ev'ii immortal angels fell. Whatever fills the teeming sphere Of humid earth, and ambient air, With varying elements eudu'd. Was form'd to tall, and rise renew 'd. The stars no fix'd duration know; Wide oceans ebb, again to flow ; The moon repletes her waning face. All-beauteous, from her late disgrace; And suns, that mourn approachmg night, Refulgent rise, with new-born light. In vain may death and time subdue, While nature mints iier race anew, And holds some vital spark apart, Like virtue, hid in ev'ry heart ; 'Tis hence, reviving warmth is seen, To clothe a naked world in green ; 90 No longer barr'd by winter's cold, Again the gates of life unfold ; Again each insect tries his wing, And lifts fresh pinions on the spring; Again from ev'ry latent root The bladed stem and tendril shoot, Exhaling incense to the skies, Again to perish, and to rise. And must weak WOMAN then disown The change to which a world is prone ? In one meridian brightness shine, And ne'er like ev'ning suns decline ? Resolv'd and firm alone ? — Is this What we demand of woman?— Yes! But should the spark of vestal fire, In some unguarded hour expire ; Or should the nightly thief invade Hesperia's chaste and sacred shade, Of all the blooming spoils possess'd. The dragon, honour, charm'd to rest, Wfated^'- JtcrfT JciJp^ JrVl ptUff07 lmJ„n lhM,,h,J. I(y .fcMrhrrd i- L,tUn,win^i>^raru> Lan^ . 91 Shall virtue's flame no more return? No more with virgin splendour burn r No more the ravag'd garden blow With spring's succeeding blossom ? — No ! Pity may mourn, but not restore, And WOMAN falls — to rise no more. Within this sublunarj^ sphere, A country lies — no matter where; The clime may readily be found, By all who tread poetic ground ; A stream, call'd life, across it glides, And equally the land divides ; And here, of vice the province lies, And there, the hills of virtue rise. Upon a mountain's airy stand, W^hose summit look'd to either land, An ancient pair their dwelling chose. As well for prospect as repose ; For mutual faith they long were fam'd. And temp'rance, and religion, nam'd. 92 A num'rous progeny divine Confess'd the honours of their hue ; But in a Httle daughter fair Was center'd more than half their care ; For lieav'n, to gratulate her birth, Gave signs of future joy to earth. White was the robe this infant wore, And CHASTITY the name she bore. As now the maid in stature grew, (A flow'r just op'niug to the view) Oft thro' her native lawns she stray'dy And wrestling with the lambkins play'd; Her looks diffusive sweets bequeath'd. The breeze grew purer as she breath'd, The morn her radiant blush assum'd, The spring with earlier fragrance bloom'd, And NATURE yearly took delight, Like her, to dress the world in white. But when her rising form was seen To reach the crisis of fifteen ; 93 Her parents up the mountain's head, With anxious step, their darhng led ; By turns tliey snatch'd her to their breast, • And thus the fears of age express'd : " O joyful cause of many a care! " O daughter, too divinely fair! " Yon \\orld, on this important day, " Demands thee to a dang'rous way; " A painful journey all must go, " Whose doubtful period none can know; " Whose due direction who can tind, *' Where reason's mute, and sense is bhnd! " Ah! what unequal leaders these, " Thro' such a wide perplexing maze! " Then mark the warnings of the wise, " And learn what love and years advise. " Far to the right thy prospect bend, " Where yonder tow'rini; hills ascend : " Lo ! there the arduous path's in view, " Which VIRTUE, and her sons, pursue; 94 '' With toil, o'er less'iiing earth they rise, " And gain, and gain upon the skies. — " Narrow's the way her children tread, " No walk for pleasure smoothly spread ; " But rough, and ditficult, and steep, " Paiiiful to chmb, and hard to keep. " Fruits immature those lands dispense, " A food indelicate to sense, " Of taste unpleasant, yet from those " Pure HEALTH, with cheerful vigour flows; *' And strength unfeeling of decay, " Throughout the long laborious way, *' Hence, as they scale that heav'nly road, " Each limb is lighten'd of its load: " From earth refining still they go, " And leave the mortal weight below; " Then spreads the strait, the doubtful clears, " And smooth the rugged path appears; " For custom turns fatigue to ease, "^ " And, taught by virtue, pain can please. 95 " At length, the toilsome journey o'er, '' And near the bright celestial shore, " A gulf, black, fearful, and profound, " Appears, of either world the bound, *' Thro' darkness, leading up to light, '• Sense backward shrinks, and shuns the sight ; " For there the transitory train, " Of time, and form, and care, and pain, " And matter's gross incumb'ring mass, " Man's late associates, cannot pass, " But sinking, quit th' immortal charge, " And leave the wond'ring soul at large; " Lightly she wings her obvious way, " And miiicles with eternal day. " Tliither, O thither, wing thy speed, " Tho' PLEASURE charm, or pain impede; " To such th' all-bounteous pow'r has giv'n, " For present earth, a future heav'n; '* For trivial loss, immeasur'd gain, " And endless bliss, for transient pain. 96 ** Then fear, ah ! fear, to turn thy siglif, " Where yonder flow'ry fields invite; " Wide on the left the path-way bends, " And with pernicious ease descends; " There, sweet to sense, aud fair to show, " New-planted eden seems to blow; " Trees that delicious poison bear, " For DEATH is vegetable there. " Hence is the frame of health unbrac'd, " Each sinew slack'ning at the taste ; " The soul to passion yields her throne, " And sees with organs not her own; " While, like the slumb'rer in the night, " Pleas'd with the shadowy dream of light, " Before her alienated eyes '* The scenes of fairy-land arise; " The puppet-world's anmsing show, " Dipt in the gaily colour'd bow ; " Sceptres, and wreaths, and glitt'ring things, " The toys of infants and of kings. 97 " That tempt along the baneful plain, " The idly wise, and lightly vain ; " Till verging on the gulfy shore, " Sudden they sink, to rise no more. " But list to what thy FATES declare, " Tho' thou art woman, frail as fair, " If once thy sliding foot should stray, " Once quit yon heav'n-appointed way, " For thee, lost maid, for thee alone, " Nor pray'rs shall plead, nor tears atone; *' Reproach, scorn, infamy, and hate, " On thy returning steps shall wait. — " Thy form be loath'd by ev'ry eye, " And evj-y foot thy presence fly." Thus arni'd with words of potent sound. Like guardian-angels plac'd around ; A charm, by truth divinely cast, Forward our young advent'rer pass'd. Forth from her sacred eye-lids sent, Like morn, fore-running, radiance went, F 98 While HONOUR, hand-maid, late assign'd, Upheld her lucid train behind. Awe-struck, tlie much-adrairing crowd Before the virgin-vision bow'd; Gaz'd with an ever-new delight, And caught fresh virtues at the sight; For not of earth's unequal frame They deem'd the heav'n-conipounded darae, If matter, sure the most refin'd, High-wrought, and temper'd into mind, Some darling daughter of the day, And body'd by her native ray. Where'er she passes, thousands bend. And thousands, where she moves, attend ; Her ways observant eyes confess, Her steps pursuing praises bless ; While to the elevated maid Oblations, as to heav'n, are paid. Twas on an ever-blithsome day, The jovial birth of rosy may, 99 When genial \vanntli, no more suppressed, New melts the frost in every breast ; The cheek with secret flushing dies, And looks kind things from chastest eyes ; The SUN with healthier visage glows, Aside his clouded kerchief throws, And dances up th' ethereal plain. Where late he us'd to climb with pain ; While NATURE, as from bonds set free, Springs out, and gives a loose to glee. And now for momentary rest, The nymph her travell'd step repress'd, Just turn'd to view the stage attain'd, And glory'd in the height she gain'd, Out-stretch'd before her wide survey, The realms of sweet perdition lay. And pity touch'd her soul with woe. To see a world so lost below ; When straight the breeze began to breathe Airs, gently wafted from beneath. 100 That bore conimission'd witchcraft thence, And reach'd her sympathy of sense ; No sounds of discord, that disclose A people sunk, and lost in woes ; But as of present good possess'd, The very triumph of the bless'd; The maid in wrapt attention hung, While thus approaching sirens sung* ' Hither, fairest, hither haste, ' Brightest beauty, come and taste ' What the pow'rs of bliss unfold ; < Joys too mighty to be told ; ' Taste what ecstasies they give, ' Dying raptures taste, and live. * In thy lap, disdaining measure, * Nature empties all her treasure; * Soft desires, that sweetly languish, ' Fierce delights, that rise to anguish : * Fairest, dost thou yet delay? ' Brightest beauty, come away ! 101 * List not, when tlie froward chide, * Sons of pedantry and pride; ' Snarlers, to whose feeble sense * April sun-shine is offence; * Age and envy will advise, * Ev'n against the joys they prize. * Come, in pleasure's balmy bowl ' Slake the thirstings of thy soul, * 'Till thy raptur'd pow'rs are fainting ' With enjoyment, past the painting : * Fairest, dost thou yet delay? * Brightest beauty, come away !' So sung the sirens, as of yore, Upon the false ausonian shore; And, O ! for that preventing chain, That bound ulysses on the main, That so our fair one might withstand The covert ruin now at hand. The song her r.harm'd attention drew. When no\\- the tempters stood in view ; Curiosity with prying eyes, And hand of busy, bold emprize; Like HERMES, feather'd were her feet, And Hke fore-running fancy fleet ; By search untaught, by toil untir'd, To novelty she still aspir'd, Tasteless of ev'ry good possessed. And but in expectation bless'd. With her, associate, PLEASURE came, Gay PLEASURE, frolic-loving dame ! Her mien, all swimming m delight, Her beauties, half reveal'd to sight; Loose flow'd her garments from the ground And caught the kissing winds aromid. As erst medusa's looks were known To turn beholders into stone, A dire reversion here they felt, And in the eye of pleasure melt. Her glance of sweet persuasion charm'd, Unnerv'd the strong, the steel'd disarm'd ; 103 No safety, ev'n the flying find, Wlio, vent'rous, looks not once beliind. Thus was the niuch-adniiriug maid, While distant, more than half betray 'd. With smiles, and adulation bland, They join'd her side, and seizVl her hand ; Their touch envenom'd sweets instill'd, Her frame with new pulsations thrill'd, While half consenting, half denying. Reluctant now, and now complying, Amidst a war of hopes and fears, Of trembling wishes, smiling tears, Still down, and down, the winning pair Compell'd the struggling, yielding fair. As when some stately vessel, bound To blest ARABIA'S distant ground. Borne from her courses, haply lights Where barca's flow'ry cHme invites ; Conceal'd around whose treach'rous land, Lurks the dire rock, and dang'rous sand; 104 The pilot warns, with sail aiul oar, To shun the much-suspected shore In vain : the tide too subtly strong, Still bears the wrestling bark along, Till found'ring, she resigns to fate. And sinks, o'envhehnn'd, with all her freight. So baffling ev'ry bar to sin, And heav'n's own pilot plac'd within, Along the devious smooth descent, With pow'rs increasing as they went, The DAMES, accustom'd to subdue, As with a rapid current drew ; And o'er the fatal bounds convey'd The lost, the long-reluctant maid. Here stop, ye fair ones, and beware, Nor send your fond affections there ; Yet, yet your darling, now deplor'd, May turn, to you and heav'n restor'd ; Till then, with weeping honour, wait The servant of her better fate, 105 With HONOUR left upon the shore, Her friend and handmaid now no more; Nor, with the guilty world, upbraid The fortunes of a wretch betray'd ; But o'er her failing cast a veil, Remcmb'ring you, yourselves, are frail. And now, from all-enquiring light, Fast fled the conscious shades of night ; The damsel, from a short repose, Confounded at her plight, arose. As when with slumb'rous weight opprest, Some wealthy miser shiks to rest. Where felons eye the glitt'ring prey. And steal his hoard of joys away: He, borne where golden indus streams, Of pearl and quany'd di'mond dreams, Like MIDAS, turns the glebe to ore, And stands all wrapt amidst his store; But wakens, naked, and despoil'd Of that for which liis years had toil'd. F2 106 So far'd the nymph, her treasure flown, And tum'd, Hke niobe, to stone; Withiii, without, obscure and void, She felt all ravag'd, all destroy'd. And, O ! thou curs'd insidious coast, Are these the blessings thou canst boast? These, virtue! these the joys they find, Who leave thy heav'n-topt hills behind ! Shade me, ye pines, ye caverns hide, Ye mountains cover me ! she cry'd. Her trumpet slander rais'd on high;, And told the tidings to the sky ; Contempt discharg'd a living dart, A side-long viper to her heart; Reproach breath'd poisons o'er her face, And soil'd, and blasted ev'ry grace; Officious SHAME, her handmaid new, Still turn'd the mirror to her view ; While those in crimes the deepest dy'd, Approach'd to whiten at her side ; 107 And ev'17 lewd insulting dame Upon her folly rose to fame. What should she do ; attempt once more To gain the late-deserted shore ? So trusting, back the mourner flew, As fast the train of fiends pursue. Again the farther shore's attaiu'd, Agahi the land of virtue gain'd; But ECHO gathers in the wind, And shows her instant foes behind. Amaz'd ! with headlong speed she tends, Where late she left an host of friends ; Alas ! those shrinking friends decline, Nor longer own that form divine ; With fear they mark the following cry, And from the lonely trembler fly; Or backward drive lier on the coast Where peace was wreck'd, and honour lost. 108 From earth thus hoping aid in vain ; To heav'n, not daring to complain; No truce, by hostile clamour giv'n, And from the face of friendship driv'n; The NYMPH sunk prostrate on the ground, With all her weight of woes around. Enthron'd whhin a circling sky, Upon a mount, o'er mountains high. All radiant sat, as in a shrine, Virtue, lirst etfluence divine; Far, far above the scenes of woe, That shut this cloud-wrapt world below ; Superior goddess ! essence bright ! Beauty of uncreated light, Whom should mortality survey, As doom'd upon a certain day; The breath of frailty must expire, The world dissolve in living fire; The gems of heav'n, and solar flame, Be quench'd by her eternal beam. Pa//t' 208 LviuiorL-Jith^fiKxl I(y SoaLihird S.' LeOennan^ ive i£irLx time . 109 And nature, quick'niug in her eye. To raise a new-born phoenix, die. Hence, unreveal'd to mortal view, A veil around her form she threw, Which three sad sisters of the shade, Pain, care, and melancholy, made. Thro' this her all-inquiring eye, Attentive from her station hish, Beljeld, abandon'd to despair, The ruins of her fav'rite fair ; And with a voice, whose awful sound Appall'd the guilty world around, Bid the tumultuous winds be still; To numbers bow'd each list'ning hill ; Uncurl'd the surging of tlie main. And smooth'd the thorny bed of pain; The golden harp of heav'n she strung. And thus the tuneful goddess sung: no " Lovely penitent, arise, " Come, and claini thy kindred skies; " Come, thy sister angels say, " Thou hast wept thy stains away. " Let experience now decide, " 'Twixt the good and evil, try'd, " In the smooth enchanted ground, ** Say, unfold the treasures found. " Structures, rais'd by morning dreams, " Sands that trip the flitting streams, *' Down that anchors on the air, " Clouds that paint their changes there. " Seas that smoothly dimpling lie, " While the storm impends on high, " Showing in an obvious glass, " Joys that in possession pass. " Transient, fickle, light, and gay, " Flatt'ring, only to betray ; " What, alas ! can life contain ? " Life, like all its circles, vain. Ill " Will the STORK, intending rest, " On the billow build her nest ? " Will the BEE demand his store " From the bleak and bladeless shore I " MAN alone, intent to stray, '' Ever turns from w isdom's way; " Lays up wealth in foreign land, '' So\\s the sea, and plows the sand. " Soon this elemental mass, " Soon th' encumb'ring world shall pass; " Form be wrapt in wasting fire, " Time be spent, and life expire. " Then, ye boasted works of men! " Where is your asylum then? •' Sons of PLEASURE, SOnS of CARE, " Tell me, mortals, tell me where? " Gone, hke traces on the deep, " Like a sceptre grasp'd in sleep ; " Dews exhal'd from morning glades, •* Melting snows, and gliding shades. 112 " Pass the world, and what's behind ? " Virtue's gold, by fire refin'd; " From an universe deprav'd, " From the wreck of nature sav'd. " Like the life-supporting grain, " Fruit of patience and of pain, " On the swain's autumnal day, " Winnow'd from the chaff away. " Little TREMBLER, fear no more, " Thou hast plenteous crops in store ; " Seeds, by genial sorrows sown, " More than all thy scorners own. " What, tho' hostile eartli despise, " Heaven beholds with gentler eyes ; '' Heav'n thy friendless steps shall guide, " Cheer thy hours, and guard thy side. " When the fatal trump shall sound, " When th' immortals pour around, *' Heav'n shall thy return attest, " Hail'd by myriads of the bless'tl. 113 " Utile native of the skies, " Lovely FENITENT, arise, " Calm thy bosom, clear thy brow, " Virtue is thy sister now. " More delightful are my woes " Than the rapture pleasure knows; " Richer far the weeds I bring ** Than the robes that grace a king. " On my wars of shortest date, " Crowns of endless triumph wait; " On my cares a period bless'd, " On my toils, eternal rest. " Come, with virtue at thy side, " Come, be ev'ry bar defy'd, " Till we gain our native shore; " Sister, come, and turn no more/' 114 FABLE XV I. LOVE AND VANITY. ± HE breezy morning breath'd perfume. The wak'ning flow'rs unveil'd their bloom ; Up M'ith the sun, from sliort repose, Gay HEALTH, and histy labour, rose; The milk-maid carol'd at her pail, And shepherds whistled o'er the dale; When LOVE, who led a rural life, Remote from bustle, state, and strife, Forth from his thatch-roof'd cottage stray 'd, And slroU'd along the dewy glade. A nymph, who lightly tripp'd it by, To quick attention turn'd his eye; He mark'd the gesture of the fair, Her self-sutficient grace and air; 115 fler steps that mincing meant to please, Her study 'd negligence and ease ; And curious to inquire what meant This thing of prettiuess and paint, Approaching spoke, and bow'd observant : Tlie lady, shghtly — " Sir, your servant." ' Such beauty in so rude a place! * Fair one, you do the country grace; ' At court, no doubt, the public care, ' But LOVE has small acquaintance there.' " Yes, sir," reply'd the flutt'ring dame, " This form confesses whence it came ; " But dear variety, you know, " Can make us pride and pomp forego ; " My name is vanity : I sway " The utmost islands of the sea ; *' Within my court all honour centers, " I raise the meanest soul that enters, " Endow with latent gifts and graces, '-' And model fools for posts and places. 116 " As VANITY appoints at pleasure, " The world receives its weight and measure ; " Hence all the grand concerns of life, " Joys, cares, plagues, passion, peace, and strife. " Reflect how far my pow'r prevaiFs, " When I step in where NATURE fails: x *' And ev'ry breach of sense repairing, *' Am bounteous still, where heav'n is sparing. " But chief, in all their arts and airs, " Their playing, painting, pouts, and pray'rs, " Their various habits and complexions, " Fits, frolics, foibles, and perfections, " Their robing, curling, and adorning, " From noon to night, from night to morning, " From six to sixty, sick or sound, " I rule the female world around. " — ' Hold there a moment, cupid cry'd, ' Nor boast dominion quite so wide; 117 ' Was there no pro\ iiice to invade, ' But that by love and meekness sway'd; ' All other empire I resign, * But be the sphere of beauty mine. ' For in the downy lawn of rest, ' That opens on a woman's breast, ' Attended by my peaceful train, ' I choose to live, and choose to reign. * Tar-sighted faith I bring along, * And TRUTH, above an army strong, * And CHASTITY, of icy mould, ' Within the burning tropics cold ; ' And LOWLINESS, to whose mild brow * The pow'r and pride of nations bow ; ' And MODESTY, witl\ down-cast eye, ' That lends the morn her virgin dye ; * And INNOCENCE, array'd in light, * And HONOUR, as a tow'r upright; ' With sweetly winning graces, more ' Than poets ever dreamt of yore; 118 ' In unaffected conduct free, * All smiling sisters, three times three ; ' And rosy peace, the cherub bless'd, ' That nightly sings us all to rest. ' Hence, from the bud of nature's prime, * From the first step of infant time, ' Woman, the world's appointed light, < Has skirted ev'ry shade with white ; * Has stood for imitation high, ' To ev'ry heart, and ev'ry eye ; ' From ancient deeds of fair renown, ' Has brought her bright memorials down ; ' To time affix'd perpetual youth, * And form'd each tale of love and truth. ' Upon a new promethean plan, ' She moulds the essence of a man, ' Tempers his mass, his genius fires, ' And as a better soul inspires. * The rude she softens, warms the cold, * Exalts the meek; and checks the bold ; 119 * Calls SLOTH from his supine repose, ' Witliiu the coward's bosom glow s ; ' Of pride unplumes the lofty crest, ' Bids bashful merit staud coufess'd ; ' And hke coarse metal from the mines, * Collects, irradiates, and refines ; ' The gentle science she imparts, ' All mamiers smooths, informs all hearts; ' From her sweet influence are felt, * Passions that please, and thoughts that melt. ' To stormy rage she bids controul, ' And sinks serenely on the soul ; ' Softens ducalion's Hinty race, * And tunes the warring world to peace. ' Thus arm'd to all that's light and vain, * And freed from thy fantastic chain, ' She fills the sphere, by heav'n assigned, * Aiidj rul'd by me, o'er-rules mankmd.' He spoke. — The nymph impatient stood, And, laugliing, thus her speech renew'd: 120 " And pray, sir, may I be so bold, " To bope your pretty tale is told; " And next demand without a cavil, " What new Utopia do you travel? " Upon my word, these high-flown fancies " Shew depth of learning in romances. " Why, w^hat unfashion'd stuff you tell us, " Of buckram dames, and tiptoe fellows ! " Go, child, and when you're grown maturer, " You'll shoot your next opinion surer. " O, such a pretty knack at painting, " And all for soft'ning, and for sainting! " Guess now, who can, a single feature, " Thro' the whole piece of female nature : " Then, mark ! my looser band may fit " Tlie Imes too coarse for love to hit. *' 'Tis said, that woman prone to changing, " Thro' all the rounds of foiiy ranging, " On life's uncertain ocean riding, " No reason, rule, nor rudder guiding. 121 *' Is like the comet's \vaud'rii]_y J I I I ^ a: .^OFCALIFO/?^ ^OF-CALIF0% '^