Do not we just abhorrence find
Against the toad and serpent-kind ?
But Envy, Calumny, and Spite,
Bear ftronger venom in their bite.
Thus every object of creation
Can furnish hints to contemplation;
And, from the most minute and mean,
A virtuous mind can morals glean.

Thy fame is juft, the Sage replies;

Thy virtue proves thee truly wife.
Pride often guides the author's pen ;
Books as affected are as men :
But he who ftudies Nature's laws,
From certain truth his maxims draws;
And those, without our schools, fuffice
To make men moral, good, and wife.

TO HIS HIGHNESS

WILLIAM DUKE OF CUMBERLAND.

FABLE I.

THE LION, THE TIGER, AND THE TRAVELLER.

ACCEPT, young Prince! the moral lay,

And in thefe TALES mankind furvey;

With early virtues plant your breast,
The fpecious arts of vice deteft.

Princes, like beauties, from their youth
Are ftrangers to the voice of Truth.
Learn to contemn all praife betimes,
For flattery 's the nurfe of crimes :
Friendship by fweet reproof is shown
(A virtue never near a throne):
In courts fuch freedom must offend;
There none prefumes to be a friend.
To thofe of your exalted station,
Each courtier is a dedication.
Muft I, too, flatter like the reft,

And turn my morals to a jeft?

The Mufe difdains to steal from those

Who thrive in courts by fulfome profe.

But fhall I hide your real praise, Or tell you what a nation fays? They in your infant bosom trace The virtues of your royal race;

5

10

20

In

In the fair dawning of your mind,
Difcern you generous, mild, and kind :
They see you grieve to hear diftress,
And pant already to redress.
Go on, the height of good attain,
Nor let a nation hope in vain :
For hence we justly may presage
The virtues of a riper age.

True courage fhall your bofom fire,
And future actions own your fire.
Cowards are cruel; but the brave
Love mercy, and delight to fave.

A Tiger, roaming for his prey
Sprung on a Traveller in the way;
The proftrate game a Lion fpies,
And on the greedy tyrant Alies:

With mingled roar refounds the wood,
Their teeth, their claws, diftil with blood;
Till, vanquifh'd by the Lion's ftrength,

The fpotted Foe extends his length.
The Man befought the fhaggy Lord,
And on his knees for life implor'd.
His life the generous hero gave.
Together walking to his cave,

The Lion thus befpoke his gueft:

"What hardy beaft fhall dare conteft

"My matchless ftrength? You saw the fight,
"And must atteft my power and right.
"Forc'd to forego their native home,
"My starving flaves at distance roam.

"Within

Within these woods I reign alone;

"The boundless foreft is my own.
“Bears, wolves, and all the favage brood,
"Have dy'd the regal den with blood.

Thefe carcaffes on either hand,
"Those bones that whiten all the land,
"My, former deeds and triumphs tell,
"Beneath thefe jaws what numbers fell."
"True," fays the Man, "the strength I saw
Might well the brutal nation awe;
-“ But shall a monarch, brave, like you,
"Place glory in so false a view?

"Robbers invade their neighbours' right.
"Be lov'd; let juftice bound your might.
"Mean are aimbitious heroes' boafts
"Of wafted lands and flaughter'd hosts.
"Pirates their power by murders gain.;
"Wife kings by love and mercy reign.
"To me your clemency hath fhown
"The virtue worthy of a throne.
"Heaven gives you power above the rest,
Like Heaven, to fuccour the distrest."
"The cafe is plain," the monarch said.;
"Falfe glory hath my youth misled ;
"For beafts of prey, a fervile train,
"Have been the flatterers of my reign..
"You reafon well. Yet tell me, friend,
"Did ever you in courts attend?

For all my fawning rogues agree,
That human heroes rule like me."

55

(60

65

FABLE

A

FABLE II.

THE SPANIEL AND THE CAMELEON.

SPANIEL, bred with all the care
That waits upon a favourite heir,
Ne'er felt Correction's rigid hand;
Indulg'd to difobey command,
In pamper'd cafe his hours were spent :
He never knew what Learning meant.
Such forward airs, fo pert, fo fmart,
Were fure to win his lady's heart;
Each little mifchief gain'd him praife;
How pretty were his fawning ways!

The wind was fouth, the morning fair,
Hé ventures forth to take the air:
He ranges all the meadow round,
And rolls upon the fofteft ground;
When near him a Cameleon feen,
Was fearce diftinguish'd from the green.
"Dear emblem of the flattering host,
"What, live with clowns! a genius lost!
"To cities and the court repair;

66 A fortune cannot fail thee there:

"Preferments fhall thy talents crown;

"Believe me, Friend; I know the Town."

"Sir," fays the Sycophant, "like you,

"Of old, politer life I knew:

Li

10