Here every day he cramm'd his guts,
Hence were his hoards of pears and nuts;
For 'twas agreed (in way of trade)
His payments fhould in corn be made.
The stock of grain was quickly fpent,
And no account which way it went.
Then, too, the Poultry's ftarv'd condition
Caus'd fpeculations of fufpicion.
The facts were prov'd beyond difpute;
Pug must refund his hoards of fruit ;'
And, though then minifter in chief,
Was branded as a public thief.
Difgrac'd, defpis'd, confin'd to chains,
He nothing but his pride retains.
A Goofe pafs'd by; he knew the face,
Seen every levée while în place.
"What, no respect! no reverence shown!
How faucy are these creatures grown!
Not two days fince (fays he) you bow'd
The loweft of my fawning crowd."
"Proud fool! (replies the Goofe) 'tis true 15 Thy corn a fluttering levee drew; For that I join'd the hungry train, And fold thee flattery for thy grain, But then, as now, conceited Ape, ra We saw thee in thy proper fhape."
My verfe may touchy folks offend.
In prudence, too, you think my rhymes
Should never fquint at courtiers' crimes;
For though nor this nor that is meant,
Can we another's thoughts prevent ?
You ask me if I ever knew
Court chaplains thus the lawn purfue?
I meddle not with gown or lawn;
Poets, I grant, to rife muft fawn;
They know great ears are over-nice,
And never fhock their patron's vice.
But I this hackney-path defpife;
'Tis my ambition not to rife.
If I must prostitute the Mufe,
The bafe conditions I refufe.
I neither flatter nor defame,
Yet own I would bring guilt to fhame.
If I Corruption's hand expofe,
I make corrupted men my fɔes;
What then? I hate the paltry tribe :
Be virtue mine; be theirs the bribe.
I no man's property invade ;
Corruption 's yet no lawful trade.
Nor would it mighty ills produce,
Could I fhame bribery out of use..
I know 'twould cramp moft politicians,
Were they ty'd down to these conditions..
"Twould fting their power, their riches bound,
And make their parts feem lefs profound..
Were they deny'd their proper tools,
How could they lead their knaves and fools?
Were this the cafe, let's take a view
What dreadful mischiefs would enfue..
Though it might aggrandize the state,
Could private luxury dine on plate?
Kings might indeed their friends reward,
But minifters find lefs regard..
Informers, fycophants, and fpies,.
Would not augment the year's fupplies..
Perhaps, too, take away this prop,
An annual jobb or two might drop
Befides, if penfions were deny'd,
Could Avarice fupport its pride?:
It might ev'n ministers confound,.
And yet the state be fafe and found..
I care not though 'tis understood;
I only mean my country's good :.
And (let who will my freedom blame)
I wish all courtiers did the fame..
Nay, though fome folks the lefs might get,
I wish the nation out of debt.
I put no private nian's ambition
With public good in competition.
Rather than have our laws defacid,
I'd vote a minifter disgrac'd.
I ftrike at vice, be 't where it will;
And what if great folk's take it ill?
I hope corruption, bribery, penfion,
One may with deteftation mention;
Think you the law (let who will take it)
·Can scandalum magnatum make it ?
I vent no flander, owe no grudge,
Nor of another's confcience judge :
At him or him I take no aim,
Yet dare against all vice declaim.
Shall I not cenfure breach of truft,
Because knaves know themselves unjust ♦
'That steward, whofe account is clear,
Demands his honour may appear :
His actions never fhun the light;
He is, and would be prov❜d, upright.
But then you think my Fable bears
Allufion, too, to state-affairs.
I grant it does: and who 's fo great,
For he had impudence at will,
And boafted univerfal skill.
Ambition was his point in view :
Thus by degrees to power he grew.
Behold him now his drift attain:
He 's made chief treasurer of the grain.
But as their ancient laws are juft,
And punish breach of public trust,
"Tis order'd (left wrong application
Should starve that wife industrious nation)
That all accounts be stated clear,
Their ftock, and what defray'd the year;
That auditors fhall thefe infpect,
And public rapine thus be check'd.
For this the folemn day was fet;
The auditors in council met.
The granary-keeper muft explain,
And balance his account of grain.
He brought (fince he could not refuse them)
Some fcraps of paper to amufe them.
An honeft Pifiire, warm with zeal,
In justice to the public weal,
Thus fpoke: "The nation's hoard is low;
From whence does this profufion flow?
I know our annual funds' amount;
Why fuch expence? and where 's th' account?" 110
With wonted arrogance and pride,
The Ant in office thus reply'd.
"Confider, Sirs, were fecrets told,
How could the best-fchem'd projects hold?
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