'Sir,' says the sycophant, 'like you, Of old, politer life I knew: Like you, a courtier born and bred; Kings leaned an ear to what I said.

My whisper always met success; The ladies praised me for address, I knew to hit each courtier's pa.s.sion, And flattered every vice in fashion.

_30 But Jove, who hates the liar's ways, At once cut short my prosperous days; And, sentenced to retain my nature, Transformed me to this crawling creature.

Doomed to a life obscure and mean, I wander in the sylvan scene.

For Jove the heart alone regards; He punishes what man rewards.

How different is thy case and mine!

With men at least you sup and dine; _40 While I, condemned to thinnest fare, Like those I flattered feed on air.'

FABLE III.

THE MOTHER, THE NURSE, AND THE FAIRY.

Give me a son! The blessing sent, Were ever parents more content?

How partial are their doting eyes!

No child is half so fair and wise.

Waked to the morning's pleasing care, The mother rose, and sought her heir.

She saw the nurse, like one possess'd, With wringing hands, and sobbing breast.

'Sure some disaster hath befell: Speak, nurse; I hope the boy is well.'

_10 'Dear madam, think not me to blame; Invisible the fairy came: Your precious babe is hence conveyed, And in the place a changeling laid.

Where are the father's mouth and nose, The mother's eyes, as black as sloes?

See here a shocking awkward creature, That speaks a fool in every feature.'

'The woman's blind,' the mother cries; 'I see wit sparkle in his eyes.'

_20 'Lord! madam, what a squinting leer; No doubt the fairy hath been here.'

Just as she spoke, a pigmy sprite Pops through the key-hole, swift as light; Perched on the cradle's top he stands, And thus her folly reprimands: 'Whence sprung the vain conceited lie, That we the world with fools supply?

What! give our sprightly race away, For the dull helpless sons of clay!

_30 Besides, by partial fondness shown, Like you we doat upon our own.

Where yet was ever found a mother, Who'd give her b.o.o.by for another?

And should we change for human breed, Well might we pa.s.s for fools indeed.'

FABLE IV.

THE EAGLE, AND THE a.s.sEMBLY OF ANIMALS.

As Jupiter's all-seeing eye Surveyed the worlds beneath the sky, From this small speck of earth were sent, Murmurs and sounds of discontent; For every thing alive complained, That he the hardest life sustained.

Jove calls his eagle. At the word Before him stands the royal bird.

The bird, obedient, from heaven's height, Downward directs his rapid flight; _10 Then cited every living thing, To hear the mandates of his king.

'Ungrateful creatures, whence arise These murmurs which offend the skies?

Why this disorder? say the cause: For just are Jove's eternal laws.

Let each his discontent reveal; To yon sour dog, I first appeal.'

'Hard is my lot,' the hound replies, 'On what fleet nerves the greyhound flies, _20 While I, with weary step and slow, O'er plains and vales, and mountains go.

The morning sees my chase begun, Nor ends it till the setting sun.'

'When,' says the greyhound, 'I pursue, My game is lost, or caught in view; Beyond my sight the prey's secure: The hound is slow, but always sure.

And had I his sagacious scent, Jove ne'er had heard my discontent.'

_30 The lion craved the fox's art; The fox, the lion's force and heart: The c.o.c.k implored the pigeon's flight, Whose wings were rapid, strong, and light: The pigeon strength of wing despised, And the c.o.c.k's matchless valour prized: The fishes wished to graze the plain; The beasts to skim beneath the main.

Thus, envious of another's state, Each blamed the partial hand of Fate.

_40 The bird of heaven then cried aloud, 'Jove bids disperse the murmuring crowd; The G.o.d rejects your idle prayers.

Would ye, rebellious mutineers, Entirely change your name and nature, And be the very envied creature?

What, silent all, and none consent!

Be happy then, and learn content: Nor imitate the restless mind, And proud ambition, of mankind.'

_50

FABLE V.

THE WILD BOAR AND THE RAM.

Against an elm a sheep was tied, The butcher's knife in blood was dyed: The patient flock in silent fright, From far beheld the horrid sight.

A savage boar, who near them stood, Thus mocked to scorn the fleecy brood.

'All cowards should be served like you.

See, see, your murderer is in view: With purple hands and reeking knife, He strips the skin yet warm with life; _10 Your quartered sires, your bleeding dams, The dying bleat of harmless lambs, Call for revenge. O stupid race!

The heart that wants revenge is base.'

'I grant.' an ancient ram replies, 'We bear no terror in our eyes; Yet think us not of soul so tame, Which no repeated wrongs inflame; Insensible of every ill, Because we want thy tusks to kill.

_20 Know, those who violence pursue, Give to themselves the vengeance due; For in these ma.s.sacres we find The two chief plagues that waste mankind: Our skin supplies the wrangling bar, It wakes their slumbering sons to war; And well revenge may rest contented, Since drums and parchment were invented.'

FABLE VI.

THE MISER AND PLUTUS.

The wind was high, the window shakes, With sudden start the miser wakes; Along the silent room he stalks; Looks back, and trembles as he walks!

Each lock and every bolt he tries, In every creek and corner prys, Then opes the chest with treasure stored, And stands in rapture o'er his h.o.a.rd; But, now with sudden qualms possess'd, He wrings his hands, he beats his breast.

_10 By conscience stung, he wildly stares; And thus his guilty soul declares: 'Had the deep earth her stores confined, This heart had known sweet peace of mind.

But virtue's sold. Good G.o.ds, what price Can recompense the pangs of vice!

O bane of good! seducing cheat!

Can man, weak man, thy power defeat?

Gold banished honour from the mind, And only left the name behind; _20 Gold sowed the world with every ill; Gold taught the murderer's sword to kill: 'Twas gold instructed coward hearts, In treachery's more pernicious arts.

Who can recount the mischiefs o'er?

Virtue resides on earth no more!'

He spoke, and sighed. In angry mood, Plutus, his G.o.d, before him stood.

The miser, trembling, locked his chest; The vision frowned, and thus address'd: _30 'Whence is this vile ungrateful rant?

Each sordid rascal's daily cant.

Did I, base wretch, corrupt mankind?

The fault's in thy rapacious mind.

Because my blessings are abused, Must I be censured, cursed, accused?

Even virtue's self by knaves is made A cloak to carry on the trade; And power (when lodged in their possession) Grows tyranny, and rank oppression.

_40 Thus, when the villain crams his chest, Gold is the canker of the breast; 'Tis avarice, insolence, and pride, And every shocking vice beside.

But when to virtuous hands 'tis given, It blesses, like the dews of heaven: Like Heaven, it hears the orphan's cries, And wipes the tears from widows' eyes; Their crimes on gold shall misers lay, Who p.a.w.ned their sordid souls for pay?

_50 Let bravoes then (when blood is spilt) Upbraid the pa.s.sive sword with guilt.'