bowl of disolv'd pearl exhaust When mix'd troupes take the field no time is lost At last a royall Hart they ran in view Whom having at a bay the Lyon drew About him round his various languag'd Hoast Many their limbs and some their lives it cost At last ore-powr'd by number down he falls While Heaven and Earth ring at his funeralls Th'unlace then strip and next divide the Deer Thus the offended King did then complain These shares not equall are divide again One portion of the Quarrey will appear My Perquisit as I 'm your Soveraign The next is Ours as being strongest here The third you must acknowledge for my pain The last shall be your bounty not Our clame But who denies look too 't his Foe I am No Subject ' gainst this Prince durst trie his sute Not Reynard though most learned in the Law Vain are all pleas against the Lyons paw T is only force must violence confute Just title present power doth over-awe None of the beasts their grievances dispute All home return sad with a hungrie maw But as they went one said Though equalls must Yet when they please Superiors may be just MORALL When mighty power with Avarice is joyn'd Will is obey'd and Justice cast behind So Tyrants to engage the people grant And at their pleasure breake the Covenant 4 THE FOURTH FABLE Of the Eagle and the Daw. THe royall Eagle when the Ocean 's dark Waves had retir'd to their low water mark Wearie with grosser food and bloody meat Forsakes his Cedar court and mountain seat To seek fresh banquets nothing that the Ark Contain'd could please Kid Pidgeon Lamb nor Lark Nor humane slaughter moyst with putrid gore His gorge with surfeit weaken'd could put ore Shell-fish beeing salt Might cure the fault That only must his former health restore When his quick eye piercing the air a mile Upon the sea-wash'd margents of an Isle A Scollop found which was in shell so lock'd That if the devill and his dam had knock'd They might have staid for enterance a while Without successe long did the Eagle toyl His beak growes blunt his griping tallons ake No storm nor stratagem the fort will take When the slie Daw The leagure saw And to his king and royall master spake Prince of the plumed Citizens to whom We come for Justice and receive our doom Your Highnes hath been pleas'd to take advice From silly Birds from pratling Dawes and Pies And oft great Kings will hear the meanest Groom Not far from hence Sir stands an antient Toomb Hard as the Adamantine gates of Hell Mount with that Fish enchanted by a spell Lessen to a Lark Then take your mark And on hard marble break th' obdurate shell This counsell pleas'd the featherd King who straight 'Bove Clouds and winged Tempests made a flight So high he soard till Earth's magnetick force Would not have hindred to the Starrs his course Then lets the Scollop fall where it s owne weight Made a wide passage to the lushious Freight Soon as the hungry Daw perceiv'd the prize He stood not to consult but in he flies And straight did eat The Delicate Then to the sheltring wood for safety hies When th' Eagle this from Heavens bright arches saw With a deep sigh he said Ah treacherous Daw By fair pretence and counsell seeming good Thou hast depriv'd me of my dainty food Thus cunning Foxes use the Lyons Paw And by these Arts Subjects from Princes draw Soveraignty to themselves the Monarchs wing Must be strech'd out to his owne ruining No other power So high can towre 'T is the King only must destroy the King MORALL Let Princes of the best advice beware Nor trust the greedy they still treacherous are Subjects to Kings Exchecquers have no way Unles themselves deliver up the Key 5 THE FIFTH FABLE Of the Crow and the Fox VVAS it the Crow that by a cunning Plot A peice of Cheese had got Or sherking Rook or Chough or Pye Some bold affirme as boldly some deny But sure I am it was that Daw or Crow And I can proove it to be so That rob'd the King his master of his meat And now to make his Cozenage more compleat On Man his Kings King puts the second cheat This Crow surpriz'd with his own happy wit Could neither stand nor sit Proud of the spoil he makes a search Through all the Grove to find a dancing Pearch From bough to bough th'insulter hops Too low are now tall Cedars tops At last he fix'd whom slie sir Reynard sees And soon projecting how to get the Cheese Thus he accosts him plac'd 'mong lofty Trees O thou most weather-wise who best canst tell When Heaven as dark as Hell Juno incens'd shall make and when Jove condens'd air will rarifie agen But what sings lying Fame she saies Thou blacker art than those foul daies But yet to thine Swans silver down seems tann'd With such Plumes Phaenix funerall fire hath fand And Mexicans in fight like Angells stand As thou in Plumes didst thou excell in voyce 'T would Heaven and Earth rejoyce Wouldst thou but chant one pleasing lay Then be thou King of birds and Lord of May. Fair Crow intreated not refuse As crottcheting Musicians use Sing and let mounting Larks forsake the skie And let the emulating Lynnet dye And Swans no more tune their own Obsequie Successe wide doores to open Flattery gives All this the Crow beleives Trying to reach no common Noat Down drops the Dainty in sly Reynards throat Who chops it up then fleering said You have sung well and I have plaid My part not ill All learned Doctors hold Cheese for the voice far worser is than cold Since once it turn'd a Syren to a Scold When the Crow said I that rob'd Man whose Plot Spoyls from the Eagle got A Beast hath cozen'd of no lesse A dainty now than my whole second messe What cannot glozing Flatterers doe When our own selves we flatter too Go scornd of all and take thy wofull flight To dismall Groves there mix with Birds of night Did thy owne eyes believe the Crow is white MORALL Great is the power of Charmes but what enchants More than bewitching tongues of Sychophants Love and the wealth of Kings are in their power And Gold not sooner takes the maiden Towre 6 THE SIXTH FABLE The Battaile of the Frog and Mouse FRog-land to save and Micean Realms to spare From War and Ruine two bold Kings prepare The Empire of the Marshes to decide In single fight From all parts far and wide Both Nations flock to see the great event And load with Vowes and Pray'rs the Firmament Oppos'd Petitions grant Heaven's Court no rest While Hope and Feare thus strugle in their breast Up to the fatall Lists and measur'd Banks Both Armies drew bold yellow coats in Ranks And black furr'd Monscovites the circle man Which the six-finger'd Giant could not span The rising Hills each where the Vulgar crownd Nor long expect they when the
every finger Hercules In Cradle strangl'd Serpents but this can Crack twixt his nail Ironside Leviathan So much it grew in every houre that soon The Gold and Silver of the Sun and Moon Would all be his and some not stick to say Joves armes and thunder would be seiz'd next day At last the Mountain a huge grone did fetch Which made her bellies marble portals stretch And was deliver'd straight from this great house That threaten'd so much danger leaps a Mouse A showt scales heaven all crie a Mouse is born And what so much they fear'd is now a scorn Silence our Pipes and Muses now be dumb Great expectations oft to nothing come MORALL Thus haughty Nations with Rebellion big Land forces raise and huge Armado's rig Against the State fame trebling their great power Which happier Stars have scatter'd in an houre 9 THE NINTH FABLE Of the Lyon and the Mouse VVHat 's this that troubles us we cannot sleep Something is in our fur we feel it creep Betwixt our neck and shoulders 't will invade Our throat anon the weary Lyon said New come from hunting stretch'd in a cool shade Peace and wee 'll catch a Mouse his word is kept His great paw seiz'd the stragler as he crept Who trembling thus begun King of the grove Whom when thou thunderst beasts more fear than Jove Let no small crime thy high displeasure move Hither I straid by chance think not great Sir I came to pick a hole in Royall Fur Nor with the Woolf and Fox did I contrive ' Gainst you nor question'd your Prerogative If so then justly me of life deprive Should I relate for what great act my name Through Micean Realms resounded is by fame It would too much my modestie invade But when at stake life is and fortune laid To speak bold truths why should I be afraid Pirrhus who now is through the world renownd The Roman Souldier no Barbarian found In compleat Steel he saw their armies shine Full squadrons stand exacter than a line Beyond the Aelian tacticks discipline Mountains of flesh he mighty land Whales brought That tow'rs supported with arm'd Souldiers fraught Supposing by the Castle-carriers might To break the brazen ranks and to affright Ausonian squadrons with th' unusuall fight But the great warriour faild in this design The subtile Roman Herds of filthie swine On th' Elephants drove streight at their dismall crie Cittadels clash rang'd Castles rowted fly And tow'rs unsadled in their ruine lye Yet one maintain'd the field against all ods For which his King him with new honour loads And to paternall Scutcheons charg'd before With sable Castles in a field of ore Cantond in gules he ads an argent Boar. This mighty Elephant I in dead of night With these smal arms though sharp challeng'd to fight And said Your Castle and your guard are gone On equall tearms encounter me alone True valour best is without witnesse shown Strange from a Mouse this Mountain trembling ran And prayers in vain to the high Moon began But when in Clouds she hid her silver wain I through his trunck like lightning pierc'd his brain And till the dawn tryumphed ore the slain But now my fortune 's chang'd I captive lye Imploring quarter from your Majesty Make me your friend to sentence not proceed If fickle chance should frown which Jove forbid The Lyon of my aid may stand in need This said the King admiring that a Mouse Should such a monsters mighty soul unhouse Seizing the Pericranium of his brain And there with death and sullen darknes reign Signs his dismisse then seeks repose again Soon as to th' East tall shades began to creep The Lyon rose and shakes off drowsie sleep Feasts for his pregnant Queen must now be sought In fields remote far fetch'd as dear was bought The roring King in a strong net is caught Laid by a subtile Sun-burnt African While he his great strength us'd and strove in vain Twisted grates gnawing of his Hempen Cage The Micean heard th' indulgent Lyon rage And gratefull streight to free him did engage First Hunts out busily to find the cord Which clos'd the snare which found as with a sword His teeth before well on an old cheese set Cleers all the meshes of the tangling net When thus the Lyon spake at freedome set Kings be to subjects mild and when you move In highest spheres with mercy purchace love From private grudges oft great Princes have Midst triumphs met with an untimely grave And swains have power sometimes their Lords to save MORALL Mercy makes Princes Gods but mildest thrones Are often shook with huge rebellions Small help may bring great ayd and better far Is Policie than Strength in Peace or War 10 THE TENTH FABLE Of the same Lyon and Mouse THen to the Mouse he spake though Kings requite Their Saviors oft with steel or Aconite Yet I magnanimous Micean since i 'm free And had this great deliverance from thee Shall if our kingdoms have it gratefull be I know the Frogians now a popular State By various chance of war and long debate Have driv'n your race to fensed towns and tow'rs Where cruell * The Cat. Tybert in nights dismall houres Many a harmeless Mouscovite devoures But noble Catus boasts his stock from us For of our species is majestick Pusse I le use my pow'r firm peace from him to gain And by the Eagles means from Jove obtain A Stork that shall ore Croking Frogians raign But more than this by that Celestiall sign Which gilds the Corn purples the plumper Vine The Lyon call'd by wise Astronomers What 's mine is thine ask then in peace and wars Be also one of our prime Counsellors Th' ambitious Mouse who chooseth still the best For where his phang tooth hath a seale imprest If purest bread rich cheese or mellow fruit That the whole table eats without dispute To great Kings taster is this little brute Encourag'd by the Lyon thus repli'd Then let the royall Virgin be my bride Nor wonder at my sute though I am small My mother was a mountain full as tall As high Olympus Joves huge Counsell hall Great was the expectation at my birth My sister Fame divulg'd our mother Earth Swelld with a son should give heaven fresh alarms What ere my limbs me no lesse soul informs Than bold Briareus with the hundred arms The troubled King then to the Micean said Son darest thou venture on the horrid maid See where she comes attended from our court Pards Leopards Panthers round about resort Neer her delight to wanton Jackcals sport The Lyon then aside his daughter took And to prepare sweet love thus kindly spoke From whom I life and freedome have behold Amongst our Kings his name shall be enrowld One wise in Counsell and in Battell bold Then take this Jewell honour him as Lord And in thy bosome warmest seats afford She then advancing with majestick gate Looking too high to view so low a mate Trod on him unawares
crime to pennance here I came Your Sute we grant but as our custome nine Potentates I invite To Sup with me this night So intimate but you with us shall dine Then in their presence lasting Peace I le sign This known nine chosen march through narrow Ports And winding passes forth With many Mice of worth There the fond vulgar in great troups resorts Expecting Banquets in the Cattish Courts No sooner in but stern Pusse shuts the Dore Stops all the chincks and holes Then terror strikes their souls And to a Fury she 's transform'd once more Best strews the room with mangled limbs and gore Which to the Senate a new lesson reads Fair words and simpering looks Are still deceivers hooks None that is wise outward comportment heeds Mortals their face declares not but their deeds MORALL Treaties are full of fraud if rising States Would joyn with Princes and make Kings their mates Let them beware how they confirm the League Monarchs still jealous for small cause Reneage 76 THE SEVENTIE SIXTH FABLE Of the Fox and the Lyon OH all you Gods and Goddesses that dwell In Heaven Earth in Heaven Earth Sea Hell If all your power conjoynd can one protect Save the poor Fox Nor prayer reject What is it I behold His shaggie locks Are prest with shining Gold It is the Lyon See! his spreading Robe Covers at least half the terrestriall Globe Terror of Beasts and Man Whose hard teeth can Crack brazen bones of the Leviathan Help help if me he not in peeces tears I shall in sunder shake with my own fears At first the Fox thus trembled to behold The Scepter'd Lyon Arm'd and Crown'd with Gold But when the King the second time he saw Hunting in green Not so much awe Did in his looks appear Lesse Majesty in 's Mein Then Reynard drew more neer But the third day the bold beast had the face To come up close and cry'd Jove save your grace At last so neer did stand He kist his hand Soon after did the Royall eare command In which he said Custome makes mortals bold To play with that they durst not once behold MORALL Who hate to draw a Sword and Guns abhor Custom hath made most valiant Men-of-War Love's Novice so trembling fresh beauty storms Which soon lyes ruffled in his conquering arms 77 THE SEVENTIE SEVENTH FABLE Of the Lark and her Young IT is the sweet and early chanting Lark That to the Heavenly Quiresters is Clark And mounts the Skie as freely as a spark Yet she in haughty Towres not builds her Nest Nor on the tops of lofty Cedars dwels Which are with all the roring winds opprest That Northern witches conjure up with spels But in Corn Fields her habitations found Flanckt round with earth six inches under ground From whence she issuing to her young ones spake Notice be sure of what you hear to take And strickt acoount at my returning make When thus the Landlord to his Heir begun This Wheat is ripe we must have down this Corn Goe and invite my friends with rising Sun To reap it and at night it shall be Born At this sad news the Larks astonish'd were And told their Mother struck with mighty fear Then said th' old Bird If for his friends he look He may be but I shall not be mistook This Corn need fear no danger of the hook Giving like charge out the next morn she flies While th' old-Man long did friends in vain expect At last he said grown with experience wise Son call our Kindred since our friends neglect Those from our own loyns sprung will not forget That we to morrow may cut down this Wheat Th' affrighted Birds this to their Mother told Who cheer'd them thus Kindred too oft prove cold This Corn will stand and we shall keep our Hold. The second morn made bright the Hemisphere When of the Consanguineous none were seen Then said the Father to the Son I fear We shall not be beholding to our kin Stand to me Boy to morrow thou and I Will reap this Corn Cosens and Friends desie With these the Birds their Mother did acquaint When with a sigh she said We time shall want For we to morow must new regions plant They that with care to their own businesse look Are in the readiest way to have it done But who shall trust to Friends or Kindreds hook Shall find it at a stand or backward run As when the arme against the stream is slack The Boat in the swift Chanell hurries back MORALL Intelligence best moves affairs by which Both Kings and Common-wealths grow great and rich But who their businesse would have follow'd must More to themselves than any other trust 78 THE SEVENTIE EIGHTH FABLE Of the Hauke and the Nightingale WHen the triumphant Sun in his Caroach Cut from an entire Topaz made approach To the great tract betwixt the Golden horns Of the Celestiall Bull When the Ambrosian tresses of fair morns With liquid Pearl were full Then Philomel did from her Nest depart With a sad Omen and a heavy heart To trie neglected Art By the Grove side she on a Haw-thorne bough Sung her first Song and paid her yearly vow Lovers that heard her ere the Cuckows voice Rejoyce Since Valentine chose but she confirms the choice While thus she chants a sharp thorn at her breast A prying Swain who late had found her Nest Came secretly and in her absence stole From thence the Callow young A freshs wound anguish in a wounded Soul What Pen can say or Tongue He to his City Landlord bears the prize But she sends loud Complaints to Marble Skies And moves the Deities Which as relentlesse as their Statues were A Bird of War pickeering through the air A fierce Hauke sent who while she did in vain Complain Siez'd and poor Philomel must now be slain Though great her woe was and she much did grieve Yet at Pale deaths approach she fain would live And from the proud Foe thus begs quarter then This little body spare What is to thee a Nightingale or Wren A Mouthfull but of air Take some large Bird and Fat on whom is Meat Behold on every Tree and Bush they seat And spare me I intreat With frowning look the Faulcon then replies Thus Counsell Daws no Hauk is so unwise When in their pownces they have seiz'd a prey That they Let it in hope of better fly away MORALL A small Estate and sure is better far Than fortunes that in expectations are What we possesse we have fancie may feed The mind but not supply the present need 79 THE SEVENTIE NINTH FABLE Of the Husbandman and the Stork THere was a greedy Villager took pain To Plow deep wrinckles on a Virgin plain Where his strong Steers broke such obdurate glebes As might have danc'd into the Wals of Thebes Instead of stones Harder than Pyrrha's moystned Mothers bones This Swain while he did whet his blunted Share Often to Ceres and Superior Gods Did make
silly Beast not daring in his face To look nor answer suddainly gave place Who while the clock struck twelve did run a mile And shakes with thundring hoofs the rotten soyl And now the day was come the hour drew on When seaven steeds swift as those drew Phaeton Were match'd to run for a huge golden bowl Which cround with wine must glad his masters soul That wins the cup Daple so well was known All bett on his side but against him none To the first post they came Jockys were weigh'd Great cracks on each sides were and wagers laid The signal 's given at once seven Champions start Now spur now switch hanck loose no little art Their Riders shew low as their Horses care Bending their heads they break resisting aire The earth with hoofs the skies with clamors rore While voices tumbled echoe on the shore But as swift Daple far did all out-strip Ah dire mischance he strains and shot his hip Thus shaken out he and his Rider droup While in a dustie cloud on goes the troup Here our sad tale begins This steed unfit To run the race or with a burnish'd bit To bear his wealthy Lord with proud short steps Disgrace for all his former service reaps They take from him his trappings silk and gold And to a cruell Carman he is sold Labour'd all day and fed at night with grains He dreams of loads steep Hils and narrow Lanes With 's Cart at 's back weary and ill arraid The Asse espi'd him and thus vapouring braid Sir I 'm mistaken if I did not meet Your Horse-ship lately in this winding street But you 'r much alter'd in a little time You 'r leane and poor then fat and in your prime Wher 's all the gallant furniture you had How rustily you look in Leather clad Nor your soft neck bends proudly in a trot With Ladies in a Belgick Chariot Bounding on Velvet Beds nor I discern No golden Scutcheons on your gilded stern Your wheels not thunder nor your axes flame This is a Cart you draw as if you 'r lame Thus are proud mortals paid and them that know No mean in blisse shall have no mean of woe And this shall be the greatest gaule to Pride Whom they scornd rich grown poor shall them deride MORALL Let no prosperity move arrogance Like April are the fickle brows of chance But when she most seems for thee then provide With caution to allay ore-swelling Pride 36 THE SIX AND THIRTIETH FABLE Of the Husband-man and the Wood. NEer a vast Comons was a mighty grove Protected by the Hama-dryades Which then had mansion in those long-liv'd trees There flourish'd Esculus the delight of Jove And Phaebus love And there were plants had sense and some could feed And fruitfull Palms did male and female breed Wool-bearing stocks grew there and some of old Whose leaves were spangles and the branches gold In aged trees Industrious Bees Built Fortreses And did their waxen kingdoms frame And some they fame From whose hard woomb mans knottie of-spring came This wealthy grove the Royall Cedar grac'd Whose head was fix'd among the wandring stars Above loud Meteors and the elements Wars His root in th' Adamantine Center fast This all surpast Crown'd Libanus about him Elmie Peers Ash Fir and Pine had flourish'd many years By him protected both from heat and cold Eternall Plants at least ten ages old All of one mind Their strength conjoyn'd And scornd the wind Here highly honour'd stood the sacred Oke Whom Swains invoke Which oracles like that of Dodon spoke But in the neighbouring Commons dwelt a Swain That to his Hatchet long did want a heft Which only was the Royall Cedars guift When to the under cops that did complain Their Soveraign A Tyrant was he su'd they promis'd aid No Helve of Brier or Thorn was ever made Some rotten-hearted Elms and Wooden Peers Run with the stream spurd up by Hopes or Fears Avarice Pride Make others side Hoping more wide Some mighty trees remov'd they in their stead Branches might spread From Sea to Sea and raise to Heaven their head Then to the Cedar he his sute presents About whom round his whispering Counsell grows Hot they debate some side and some oppose When but unwilling the forc'd King consents And soon repents Arm'd by his guift trees fall in ranks and files Friends foes in stacks to Heaven the Rustick piles Then hollow Pines first cut with sails unfurld Lines that like nets are drawn about the world Great trees and small Together fall He ruins all But first the Grove told oracles expires And all their quires Enough t' have made twelve Caesars funerall fires At last the Shepherd standing on a hill Beheld the havock his own hands had made And with a deep-fetcht sigh thus weeping said Where is the Mast and Akorns that did fill My briefly Cattell still Ill-gotten wealth ah me is ill imploy'd And I am poorer the whole Wood destroy'd Where shall my Kids browze how shall I maintain My board with Nuts and blushing fruit again Thus Avarice brings People and Kings Their ruinings Thus grants of Princes have themselves brought low And oft orethrow Them by their fall on whom they did bestow MORALL Who weapons put into a mad Mans hands May be the first the error understands But Kings that Subjects with their Sword intrust If they do suffer seems not much unjust 37 THE SEVEN AND THIRTIETH FABLE Of the Hart and Oxen. AH me poor Hart ah whether shalt thou fly A pack of cruell Hounds in a full crie Are at thy heels on the bold Hunts-men rush In Woods there is no safety every Bush My Horns will tangle in ah wher 's the stream Whose waves commiserating would from them To farther Shores in safety me convey Where I at last my weary lymbs might lay Thus the chac'd Deer his wofull chance bemones To Hils and Dales deaf Trees and senslesse Stones When his own fate by ill advice did call Him to seek refuge at the Oxens Stall To whom he said Ah! for acquaintance sake Since we in one Park dwelt some pitty take Receive me in a thousand ways you may Save this poor life I le hide in yonder Hay When one repli'd he might in safety lye There till the Men and cruell Dogs passe by But if their Master or his Man came in The danger greater was should he be seen Keep Counsell Sirs and I will venture here Under the Cock at all-hid plays the Deer When a dull servant enter'd one that did Not half the work his carefull master bid Returning when the Beasts were serv'd with Hay Then flattering hope did the glad Hart betray But an experienc'd Oxe whom Livie made Once speak before to him rejoycing said Unhappy friend thou hast small cause to vant Wert thou as mighty as an Elephant Stood where I stand a Castle on thy back This Clown had left thee feeding at the rack This is a clod heavier than earth such souls Were all Heaven Sun would
in a figure shapes That ravish'd Proserpine these the severall rapes Of all their wanton Gods and lustfull Joves escapes But there are Masters in a Realm far West As Trvellers relate More for our purpose fit Where the whole Nation like our Apes are drest And grave long Garments hate Being much of their Capacity and Wit Go then and dancing Masters fetch from France The best choose by their Apish countenance To teach our Apes like men or like themselves to dance Sails from Marcellies a stout vessell sets Laden with dancing Masters and their Kits To purge the King of all his mellancholy fits Now Eastern Apes ply Gallick dancing Schools Where the dull German joynd With the raw English Asse That imitate all Nations look'd like fools The Apes were so refind That all our Allamodes they far surpasse How they a Brawl a Saraband would doe How stately move in a Coranto who From their great Masters now the cunning Scholler knew Oft for his Monsieur the King pleas'd to aske But when he heard they had perform'd their task He Solemn Order gave to have a stately mask And now th' expected night was come when late Enters the joyfull King And takes his lofty Chaire About him Peers and Princes of the State And in a glorious Ring Sate Gypsie Ladies there accounted fair The Scean appears the envious Curtain drawn In Gold and Purple tufted with pure lawn Beasts Frenchifi'd shewd like the blushing dawn When from the Scean a nimble Hermes springs With his Caduceus golden Shoes and Wings Conducting in a Dynastie of antient Kings That had been Mummey many thousand years Before our Authors say Adam the world began Each in his hand a mighty Scepter bears And from their heads display Twelve Silver rays shot from a Golden Sun Like demie Gods the Apes began to move Semele saw such a Majestick Jove The men admire the taken Ladies fire with love When one that knew what best would please the King A Musse of Nuts did 'mong these Hero's fling Which suddainly did all to great disorder bring Figures they quit and alter soon their pace And scambling run to seise Their most beloved Nuts Respecting not the Majesty of place These would Kings Pallaces Forsake to raign in well stor'd Squirrels Huts At last the Dancing Kings began to rage Scuffling for prey old Princes seeming sage All Laws of revels brake and in fierce War engage They fight they scratch they tumble ore and ore Their Masking sutes are all in Mamocks tore The Stage with green cloath spread is now a Field of gore There Apish Masters taken with the sport Among the thickest run Where scambling down they fall Then showts and laughter shake the joyfull Court Which had not yet been done But that the King did crie a Hall a Hall All silent then he gravely thus began Rich Cloaths nor cost nor education can Change nature nor transforme an Ape into a Man MORALL Nature in th' old worlds infancy was strong But Education Diet Art so long ' Mongst Mortals hath prevail'd that Apes and Owls Not only shapes transform but change their Souls 56 THE SIX AND FIFTIETH FABLE Of the Eagle and the Beetle O Thou most noble Beetle thou that art Stild by some Nations the black flying Hart O save my life and doe a friendly part The towring Eagle threatens from the Skies Poor * The Hare Keyward to destroy Help thou whose troups of Hornets Wasps and Flys The Bestiall Army did annoy More in that fatall day the Lyon lost Then they who Wings like spreading Sails might boast Arm'd trumpeters they were whose numerous swarms Thunder'd about their ears still fresh alarms And in their faces fix'd their venom'd arms Thus at approaching death the Hare dismaid To the poor Beetle for protection prayd Who pitties and to safety him conveyd The Eagle lights and asks whose in that Cave She streight replies I here A harmelesse Beast my meniall servant have The Hare whom I esteeme most dear But the Eagle tore him streight without remorse Then said the Beetle I that kild a Horse With Hornets nine in that victorious day And dost thou thus thy Souldiers service pay Those that can help to hurt may find away And now the Eagles Queen laid Royall Egs When the vext Fly aide of Alecto begs Who sprinkles her black wings with Stygian dregs And to small Members gave a mighty force Soon the high Nest she found And what an Embrio was without remorse Did break and tumble to the ground At which her Husband mounts Etheriall skies And to his great Protector Jove thus cries The spightfull Beetle to our Pallace came And our dear race which should preserve our name She hath destroy'd and I most wretched am To whom thus Jove in pleasing language said Thou broughtst me Ganimed on wings displaid Thou needst not thus for our high favour plead When next thy Queen brings forth a happy Birth And hath supply'd her Nest Bring them to me up from the dangerous earth And those I le cherrish in my Breast Pleas'd with the grant the Bird descends again And did his Spouse with sweet Love entertain Who streight another hopefull Issue brings With which to Heaven he mounts on spreading wings And bears them to great Jove the King of Kings Hell hath no depth nor profound Heaven that height Will not be found by wrong begotten spight Thither the furious Beetle takes her flight And bears with her fowl Pils of sorded earth Which in Joves Breast she threw He shakes them out with them the unhatch'd Birth Which when the God did view He said I that have made and can Unhinge This worlds great frame yet cannot curb Revenge And therefore Mortals you that strongest are Of injuring the smallest Worme beware Since they our lap a Sanctuary not spare MORALL To find much Treasure to obtain a Bride For whom so oft thou hast and others dy'd Hungry and cold Feasts and Rich Wine to meet To sweetnesse of Revenge are nothing sweet 57 THE SEVEN AND FIFTIETH FABLE Of the Fox and the Cat. THus to the Cat the Fox did boast his parts And glorify'd himself with his own Arts. Know Madam Pusse a thousand waies I have Beloved life to save Despising the advantage of a Cave When bloody Hounds pursu'd me I have oft Trac'd my own sent and their vain fury scoff'd When Dogs the Men Masters their Dogs condemn While I did both contemn And in contracted circles hunted them When me swift Grey-hounds follow'd though a brace I have struck blind and urind in their face When after me both Court and Country throng I from a Branch have sprung And in a stream on yielding Sallows hung Only my mouth above the swelling wave The King is mad the Dogs and Hunts-men rave These arts of mine would many Volums make My slights would fill a Sack Of which from many this short story take In a full slaughter house hung round with meat I uninvited did descend to eate
Feasted with Poultrie Mutton Veale and Lamb I did attempt the way I came To have leap'd back but fell short of my aime When in a fierce Man comes no sooner spide But with loud voice the Thief is found he cry'd Then shuts the dore and casts at me a stone Which bruis'd my Shoulder bone And made me Fiz 't was with such Fury thrown The fight was long and doubtfull in short space I could expect no other but Uncase My Liver given in Wine to them that could By Night no Water hold And Hectick Lords to drink my Tail in Gold At last he threw at me a mighty Stone Which fell beneath the place where I came down He stoops to take it up on 's back I step'd Thence through the Window leap'd And spight of him my Skin and Breakfast kep'd Then said the Cat I have no trick but one If that Grimmalkin fail then she 's undone While thus she spake a pack of Dogs they see Pusse nimbly takes a tree The Foxes heels must his deliverers be Safe on a Bough the Cat in th' open plain Mauger all Arts saw boasting Reynard slain When thus she spoke Friend for thy Death I 'm sad Much knowledge makes some Mad One good Art better is then thousand bad MORALL Some think much Learning and to many Arts Debillitate the strength of naturall parts Oft one ingenious Mistery fils the bags When Men of many Trades scarce purchase rags 58 THE EIGHT AND FIFTIETH FABLE Of the Fox and the Goat NOw Syrius and the Sun seem'd to conspire To set the great worlds Artick side on fire Countrys forbidden by eternall Laws To feel excessive heat Lay in a burning sweat Opening ten thousand parched Jaws Water to get To silence put were all those purling streams Whose murmur gives to Shepheards pleasant dreams And some did think Another Phaeton the Sea would drink Scarse would Dewcalions flood restore the Grasse Earth was turn'd Iron Heaven had so long been Brasse In this Combustion and excessive heat The Fox and Goat extreamly thirsty met Where but deep dig'd by chance they found a Well Then spake the Learned Fox Drie are all Pipes and Cocks For drink I le venture down to Hell Through Adamantine Rocks To Pluto's Cellers break to get one drop And from loud Cerberus waking snatch his Sop. Let it be so Come Father let us try these shades below This said they down to the deep Fountain glide Where they beheld the Heaven scarce three yards wide There they drank deep and now their hands being in Profoundly quaffe to th' Lyon and his Queen Many goe downs on Reputation drank To th' Bull the Bear and Boare To all could fight and rore To Animals then of the civill ranck Suffic'd gave ore For sensuall Beasts could alwaies better tell Than could the Rationall when they are well But here the Goat Stroking his Beard the hard return did note And sighing said to Hels an easie way But how shall we again revisit day That is a work a task beyond my skill Then said the Fox have a good courage still The means is found to Scale Etheriall Skies Against these steep Wals set Your two fore-feet Stand Man-like on your hinder Thighs Let your Chin meet Your Hairy Bosome that your horns may rise Upright as if prepar'd to But the Skies Then from your back to those two Spires I le leap Whence out is but a step Then on the brinck I le in fit posture stand Grave Sir to bring you off with my strong hand Th' advise is took who would good Counsell doubt And at three skips the nimble Fox got out Then at the Margents like a wanton Hind Sports proud of his successe Nor more his promises Nor his forsaken friend did mind Who in distresse False Reynard did with breach of Faith upbraid Th' insulting Fox to him deriding said Goate in thy Head had so much Wisdom been As Hair upon thy Chin But long Beards wittless are thou wouldst have known How to get up before thou hadst come down MORALL For Action Youth Age best with Counsell fits But readiest are in danger younger wits A Forrest-Beard grave looks and Silver locks 'Mong shaven Chins shew now like Tradesmens blocks 59 THE NINE AND FIFTIETH FABLE Of the old Weesell and the Mice I That so long maintain'd this ample house From bold excursions of the plundring Mouse And in huge Weinscot Woods have in their holes Where never Cat could venture freed their souls Now growing old my strength and courage fail Just when I have them by the tail Like a swift Ship arrested under Sail By Rocks or Remora's I stay While they the Pillage to strong holds convey And when I stand and Cough And sharp-breath'd Tysicks shake my panting sides The Miceans laugh And Old-Rat m'imbecillitie derides In this my house Souldiers and Scholars dine Inspir'd with truth from most oraculous Wine I heard them say That Strength and Courage are Inferior much to Policy in War There gowtie Generals in Chairs will sit And by a Stratagem of wit Make stubborn Kings with all their powers submit If it be so I le Cunning use at length Since with my Youth Courage is gone and Strength In this huge pile of Wheat I le shelter and the Cats invasion shun Let Miceans eat To my retreat And din'd then let them from the Weesell run Th' Old Vermin said and dives into the Hold Thrice his own length as soon the news was told The Foe was dead then black bands issue out And like a deluge through the house are born They plunder all the Corn And highly feast from Evening to the Morn When with the dawn Ceralian Mountains shook And a dire spectrum with a gastly look Rose from th' infernall shade Which to the Plunderers did no favour shew Great slaughter made The Weesell said Who Questions Fraud or Valour in a Foe MORALL Oft unknown Stratagems shorten a long War 'T is not how Valiant but how Wise they are That Armies lead but Mony is a spell That Conquers all and takes in Heaven and Hell 60 THE SIXTIETH FABLE Of the Spider and the Swallow OH I shall burst With my own Poyson stirr'd Oh that accurst And most despightfull Bird The Swallow daily on spread Wings resounding Nere leaves surrounding These vast and empty Halls And bold at once on winged legions falls Of Flys that sport About our Court And gives whole thousands cruell Funerals While I in vain Have built my lofty Rooms From Wind and Rain Secure and cruell Brooms There I spread Nets to catch the bonelesse people High as a Steeple With slender hands and thyghs Spining my bowels poor Arachne lyes Watching all day To seize a prey And catch not one this Bird takes all the Flyes What shall I doe Now to revenged be I le make a clue And threds twist three times three I know the Chimney top where builds the Swallow Thither I le follow The Spider said Then ore her Nest most skilfull in