The Cat, half famish'd, lean and weak, 75 Demands the privilege to fpeak.
"Well, Pufs, (says Man) and what can you To benefit the public do ?”
The Cat replies, "Thefe teeth, thefe claws,
With vigilance fhall ferve the cause..
The mouse, destroy'd by my purfuit,
No longer fhall your feafts pollute;
Nor rats, from nightly ambuscade,
With wafteful teeth your ftores invade."
"I grant, fays 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 fhall the Cat, a foe to fpoil,
Protect the farmer's honeft toil."
Then turning to the Dog, he cry'd,
"Well, Sir, be next your merits try'd."
"Sir, fays the Dog, by felf-applaufe
We feem to own a friendlefs caufe.
Afk those who know me, if distrust
E'er found me treacherous or unjust ?
Did I e'er faith or friendship break?
Afk all thofe creatures; let them fpeak.
My vigilance and trufty zeal
Perhaps might ferve the public weal.
Might not your flocks in fafety feed,
Were I to guard the fleecy breed ?
Did I the nightly watches keep,
Could thieves invade you while you sleep?"
Rewards fuch fervice fhould requite.
So rare, in property, we find
Truft uncorrupt among mankind,
That, taken in a public view,
The firft diftinction is your due.
Such merits all reward tranfcend:
Be then my comrade and my friend."
Adreffing now the Fly: "From
What public fervice can accrue?"
"From me! (the fluttering infect faid)
I thought you knew me better bred.
Sir, I'm a gentleman. Is 't fit
That I to induftry submit?
Let mean mechanics, to be fed,
By bufinefs earn ignoble bread;
Loft in excess of daily joys,
No thought, no care, my life
At noon (the lady's matin hour)
I fip the tea's delicious flower.
On cates luxuriously I dine,.
And drink the fragrance of the vine.
Studious of elegance and eafe,
Myfelf alone I feck to pleafe."
The Man his pert conceit derides, And thus the ufelefs coxcomb chides:
"Hence, from that peach, that downy feat;
No idle fool deferves to eat.
Could you have fapp'd the blushing rind,
And or that pulp ambrofial din';
Had not fome hand, with skill and toil,
To raise the tree, prepar'd the foil?
Confider, Sot, what would enfue,
Were all fuch worthlefs things as you.
You'd foon be forc'd (by hunger ftung)
To make your dirty meals on dung,
On which fuch despicable need,
Unpitied, is reduc'd to feed.
Befides, vain selfish Infect, learn,
(If you can right and wrong difcern)
That he who, with induftrious zeal,
Contributes to the public weal,
By adding to the common good,
His own hath rightly understood."
So faying, with a fudden blow
He laid the noxious vagrant low.
Crush'd in his luxury and pride,
The fpunger on the publick dy'd.
THE JACKALL, LEOPARD, AND OTHER BOASTS.
GRANT corruption fways mankind;
That intereft, too, perverts the mind;
That bribes have blinded common fenfe,
Foil'd reafon, truth, and eloquence :
I grant you, too, our prefent crimes
Can equal thofe of former times.
To vindicate our righteous age?
I know that in a modern fift
Bribes in full energy-fubfift.
Since then these arguments prevail,
And itching palms are still fo frail,
Hence Politicians, you fuggeft,
Should drive the nail that goes the beft;
That it shows parts and penetration,
To ply men with the right temptation.
To this I humbly muft diffent,
Premifing, no reflection 's meant.
Docs juftice or the client's fenfe
Teach lawyers either fide's defence?
The fee gives eloquence its fpirit;
That only is the client's merit.
Does art, wit, wifdom, or addrefs,
Obtain the prostitute's carefs?
The guinea (as in other trades)
From every hand alike perfuades.
Man, Scripture fays, is prone to evil;
But does that vindicate the devil?
Befides, the more mankind are prone,
The lefs the devil's parts are fhown.
Corruption's not of modern date;
It hath been try'd in every
Great knaves of old their power have fenc'd,
By places, penfions, bribes, difpens'd;
By these they glory'd in fuccefs,
And impudently dar'd opprefs;
By thefe defpoticly they fway'd,
And flaves extoll'd the hand that pay'd;
Nor parts nor genius were employ'd,
By thefe alone were realms deftroy'd.
Now fee thefe wretches in difgrace,
Stript of their treasures, power, and place;
View them abandon'd and forlorn,
Expos'd to fuch reproach and fcorn.
What now is all your pride, your boaft?
Where are your flaves, your flattering host?
What tongues now feed you with applaufe!
Where are the champions of your cause?
Now ev'n that very fawning train,
Which fhar'd the gleanings of your gain,
Prefs foremost who fhall firft accufe
Your felfifh jobbs, your paltry views,
Your narrow fchemes, your breach of truft,
And want of talents to be juft.
What fools were thefe amidst their power! 55
How thoughtlefs of their adverfe hour!
What friends were made? A hireling herd,
For temporary votes preferr'd.
Was it thefe fycophants to get,
Your bounty fwell'd a nation's debt?
You're bit for thefe, like Swifs, attend;
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