"What virgin had not done as I did?

My modeft hand, by nature guided, "Debarr'd at once from human eyes "The feat where female honour lies; "And, though thrice dipt from top to toe, "I ftill fecur'd the poft below,

And guarded it with grasp so fast
"Not one drop through my fingers past.
“Thus owe I to my bashful care,
"That all the rage is fettled there."

Weigh well the projects of mankind
Then tell me, Reader, canft thou find
The man from madnefs wholly free?
They all are mad fave you and me.
Do not the statesman, fop, and wit,
By daily follies prove they're bit?
And, when the briny cure they try'd,

Some part ftill kept above the tide ?

Some men (when drench'd beneath the wave)

High o'er their heads their fingers save :

Those hands by mean extortion thrive,

Or in the pocket lightly dive :
Or, more expert in pilfering vice,
They burn and itch to cog the dice..
Plunge-in a courtier; ftrait his fears
Direct his hands to ftop his ears.
And now truth feems a grating noise,
He loves the flanderer's whispering voice;

C 3

He

He hangs on flattery with delight,
And thinks all fulfome praise is right.
All women dread a watery death:
They fhut their lips, to hold their breath;
And, though you duck them ne'er fo long,
Not one falt drop e'er wets their tongue :
'Tis hence they fcandal have at will,
And that this member ne'er lies ftill,

THE

By the DEATH of the DUKE REGENT OF FRANCE,

WOW vain are mortal man's endeavours?

H°

(Said, at dame Elliot's*, mafter Travers)

Good Orleans dead ! in truth 'tis hard:

Oh, may all statesmen die prepar'd !
I do forefee (and for fore-feeing
He equals any man in being)
The army ne'er can be disbanded.

-

— I with the King were fafely landed.
Ah, friends! great changes threat the land;
All France and England at a stand !

There's Meroweis mark! strange work!
And there's the Czar, and there 's the Turk;

The Pope - An India merchant by,

Cut fhort the fpeech with this reply:

"All at a ftand? You fee great changes? "Ah, Sir! you never faw the Ganges. "There dwell the nations of Quidnunki's

(So Monomotapa calls monkies):

A coffee-houfe near St. James's.
C4

14 On

20

"On either bank, from bough to bough, "They meet and chat (as we may now). "Whifpers go round, they grin, they fhrug, "They bow, they fnarl, they fcratch, they hug; "And, just as chance or whim provoke them, "They either bite their friends, or stroke them. "There have I feen fome active prig, "To fhew his parts, beftride a twig: "Lord! how the chattering tribe admire, "Not that he 's wifer, but he 's higher : "All long to try the venturous thing (For power is but to have one's swing); "From fide to fide he fprings, he spurns, "And bangs his foes and friends by turns. "Thus, as in giddy freaks he bounces, "Crack goes the twig, and in he flounces ! "Down the swift ftream the wretch is borne; "Never, ah never, to return!

66

"Zounds! what a fall had our dear brother; "Morbleu! cries one; and Damme! t'other. "The nations give a general fcreech;

"None cocks his tail, none claws his breech;
"Each trembles for the public weal,
"And for a while forgets to fteal.

"A while, all eyes, intent and fteddy,
"Pursue him, whirling down the eddy.
"But, out of mind when out of view,
"Some other mounts the twig anew;
"And business, on each monkey-shore,
"Runs the fame track it went before."

25

30

35

40

45

FABLES.

FABLE S.

IN TWO PARTS.

"Shall not my Fables cenfure vice,
"Because a knave is over-nice?
"If I lafh vice in general fiction,
"Is 't I apply, or felf-conviction?
"Brutes are my theme. Am I to blame,,
"If men in morals are the fame?
"I no man call or ape or afs;

"'Tis his own confcience holds the glass.

"Thus void of all offence I write :

"Who claims the Fable, knows his right."

PROL. TO SHEP. WEEK.

INTRODUCTION TO THE FABLES.

PART THE FIRST.

THE SHEPHERD AND THE PHILOSOPHER.

REMOTE from cities liv'd a Swain,

Unvex'd with all the cares of gain;

His head was filver'd o'er with age,
And long experience made him fage;

2

In