Whenever neighbouring states contend, 'Tis thine to be the general friend.

What is't, who rules in other lands?

On trade alone thy glory stands.

That benefit is unconfined, Diffusing good among mankind: That first gave l.u.s.tre to thy reigns, And scattered plenty o'er thy plains: _20 'Tis that alone thy wealth supplies, And draws all Europe's envious eyes.

Be commerce then thy sole design; Keep that, and all the world is thine.

When naval traffic ploughs the main, Who shares not in the merchant's gain?

'Tis that supports the regal state, And makes the farmer's heart elate: The numerous flocks, that clothe the land, Can scarce supply the loom's demand; _30 Prolific culture glads the fields, And the bare heath a harvest yields.

Nature expects mankind should share The duties of the public care.

Who's born for sloth?[9] To some we find The ploughshare's annual toil a.s.sign'd.

Some at the sounding anvil glow; Some the swift-sliding shuttle throw; Some, studious of the wind and tide, From pole to pole our commerce guide: _40 Some (taught by industry) impart With hands and feet the works of art; While some, of genius more refined, With head and tongue a.s.sist mankind: Each, aiming at one common end, Proves to the whole a needful friend.

Thus, born each other's useful aid, By turns are obligations paid.

The monarch, when his table's spread, Is to the clown obliged for bread; _50 And when in all his glory dress'd, Owes to the loom his royal vest.

Do not the mason's toil and care Protect him from the inclement air?

Does not the cutler's art supply The ornament that guards his thigh?

All these, in duty to the throne, Their common obligations own.

'Tis he (his own and people's cause) Protects their properties and laws.

_60 Thus they their honest toil employ, And with content their fruits enjoy.

In every rank, or great or small, 'Tis industry supports us all.

The animals by want oppressed, To man their services addressed; While each pursued their selfish good, They hungered for precarious food.

Their hours with anxious cares were vex'd; One day they fed, and starved the next.

_70 They saw that plenty, sure and rife, Was found alone in social life; That mutual industry professed, The various wants of man redressed.

The cat, half-famished, lean and weak, Demands the privilege to speak.

'Well, puss,' says man, 'and what can you To benefit the public do?'

The cat replies: 'These teeth, these claws, With vigilance shall serve the cause.

_80 The mouse destroyed by my pursuit, No longer shall your feasts pollute; Nor rats, from nightly ambuscade, With wasteful teeth your stores invade.'

'I grant,' says man, 'to general use Your parts and talents may conduce; For rats and mice purloin our grain, And threshers whirl the flail in vain: Thus shall the cat, a foe to spoil, Protect the farmer's honest toil,'

_90 Then, turning to the dog, he cried, 'Well, sir; be next your merits tried.'

'Sir,' says the dog, 'by self-applause We seem to own a friendless cause.

Ask those who know me, if distrust E'er found me treacherous or unjust?

Did I e'er faith or friendship break?

Ask all those creatures; let them speak.

My vigilance and trusty zeal Perhaps might serve the public weal.

_100 Might not your flocks in safety feed, Were I to guard the fleecy breed?

Did I the nightly watches keep, Could thieves invade you while you sleep?'

The man replies: ''Tis just and right; Rewards such service should requite.

So rare, in property, we find Trust uncorrupt among mankind, That, taken, in a public view, The first distinction is your due.

_110 Such merits all reward transcend: Be then my comrade and my friend.'

Addressing now the fly: 'From you What public service can accrue?'

'From me!' the flutt'ring insect said; 'I thought you knew me better bred.

Sir, I'm a gentleman. Is't fit That I to industry submit?

Let mean mechanics, to be fed By business earn ign.o.ble bread.

_120 Lost in excess of daily joys, No thought, no care my life annoys, At noon (the lady's matin hour) I sip the tea's delicious flower.

On cakes luxuriously I dine, And drink the fragrance of the vine.

Studious of elegance and ease, Myself alone I seek to please.'

The man his pert conceit derides, And thus the useless c.o.xcomb chides: _130 'Hence, from that peach, that downy seat, No idle fool deserves to eat.

Could you have sapped the blushing rind, And on that pulp ambrosial dined, Had not some hand with skill and toil, To raise the tree, prepared the soil?

Consider, sot, what would ensue, Were all such worthless things as you.

You'd soon be forced (by hunger stung) To make your dirty meals on dung; _140 On which such despicable need, Unpitied, is reduced to feed; Besides, vain selfish insect, learn (If you can right and wrong discern) That he who, with industrious zeal, Contributes to the public weal, By adding to the common good, His own hath rightly understood.'

So saying, with a sudden blow, He laid the noxious vagrant low.

_150 Crushed in his luxury and pride, The spunger on the public died.

FABLE IX.

THE JACKALL, LEOPARD, AND OTHER BEASTS

TO A MODERN POLITICIAN.

I grant corruption sways mankind; That interest too perverts the mind; That bribes have blinded common sense, Foiled reason, truth, and eloquence: I grant you too, our present crimes Can equal those of former times.

Against plain facts shall I engage, To vindicate our righteous age?

I know, that in a modern fist, Bribes in full energy subsist.

_10 Since then these arguments prevail, And itching palms are still so frail, Hence politicians, you suggest, Should drive the nail that goes the best; That it shows parts and penetration, To ply men with the right temptation.

To this I humbly must dissent; Premising no reflection's meant.

Does justice or the client's sense Teach lawyers either side's defence?

_20 The fee gives eloquence its spirit; That only is the client's merit.

Does art, wit, wisdom, or address, Obtain the prost.i.tute's caress?

The guinea (as in other trades) From every hand alike persuades.

Man, Scripture says, is p.r.o.ne to evil, But does that vindicate the devil?

Besides, the more mankind are p.r.o.ne, The less the devil's parts are shown.

_30 Corruption's not of modern date; It hath been tried in every state.

Great knaves of old their power have fenced, By places, pensions, bribes, dispensed; By these they gloried in success, And impudently dared oppress; By these despoticly they swayed, And slaves extolled the hand that paid; Nor parts, nor genius were employed, By these alone were realms destroyed.

_40 Now see these wretches in disgrace, Stripp'd of their treasures, power, and place; View them abandoned and forlorn, Exposed to just reproach and scorn.

What now is all your pride, your boast?

Where are your slaves, your flattering host?

What tongues now feed you with applause?

Where are the champions of your cause?

Now even that very fawning train Which shared the gleanings of your gain, _50 Press foremost who shall first accuse Your selfish jobs, your paltry views, Your narrow schemes, your breach of trust, And want of talents to be just.

What fools were these amidst their power!

How thoughtless of their adverse hour!

What friends were made? A hireling herd, For temporary votes preferr'd.

Was it, these sycophants to get, Your bounty swelled a nation's debt?

_60 You're bit. For these, like Swiss attend; No longer pay, no longer friend.

The lion is, beyond dispute, Allowed the most majestic brute; His valour and his generous mind Prove him superior of his kind.

Yet to jackals (as 'tis averred) Some lions have their power transferred; As if the parts of pimps and spies To govern forests could suffice.

_70 Once, studious of his private good, A proud jackal oppressed the wood; To cram his own insatiate jaws, 73 Invaded property and laws; The forest groans with discontent, Fresh wrongs the general hate foment, The spreading murmurs reached his ear; His secret hours were vexed with fear.

Night after night he weighs the case, And feels the terrors of disgrace.

_80 'By friends,' says he, 'I'll guard my seat, By those malicious tongues defeat: I'll strengthen power by new allies, And all my clamorous foes despise.'

To make the generous beasts his friends, He cringes, fawns, and condescends; But those repulsed his abject court, And scorned oppression to support.

Friends must be had. He can't subsist.

Bribes shall new proselytes inlist.

_90 But these nought weighed in honest paws; For bribes confess a wicked cause: Yet think not every paw withstands What had prevailed in human hands.

A tempting turnip's silver skin Drew a base hog through thick and thin: Bought with a stag's delicious haunch, The mercenary wolf was stanch: The convert fox grew warm and hearty, A pullet gained him to the party; _100 The golden pippin in his fist, A chattering monkey joined the list.

But soon exposed to public hate, The favourite's fall redressed the state.

The leopard, vindicating right, Had brought his secret frauds to light, As rats, before the mansion falls, Desert late hospitable walls, In shoals the servile creatures run, To bow before the rising sun.

_110 The hog with warmth expressed his zeal, And was for hanging those that steal; But hoped, though low, the public h.o.a.rd Might half a turnip still afford.

Since saving measures were profess'd, A lamb's head was the wolf's request.

The fox submitted if to touch A gosling would be deemed too much.

The monkey thought his grin and chatter, Might ask a nut or some such matter.