The chat on various subjects ran,

Beauty can only point the dart, Till angry Hymen thus began:

'Tis ncatness guides it to the heart; Relentless Death! whose iron sway

Let neatness then and beauty strive Mortals reluctant must obey,

To keep a wav'ring flame alive. Still of thy pow'r Mall I complain,

'Tis harder far (you'll find it true) And thy too partial hand arraign?

To keep the conquest, than subdue ; When Cupid brings a pair of hearts,

Admit us once behind the screen, All over fuck with equal darts,

What is there farther to be ston? Thy cruel thafts my hopes deride,

A newer face may raise the flame, And cut the knot that Hymen ticd.

But ev'ry woman is the same. Shall not the bloody and the bold,

Then study chiefly to improve The miser hoarding up his gold,

The charm that fix'd your husband's love. The harlot reeking from the ftcw,

Weigh well his humour. Was it drets Alone thy fell revenge pursue

That gave your beauty pow'r to bless? But must the gentle and the kind

Pursue it still ; be ncater scen; Thy fury, undistinguish'd, find ?

'Tis always fiugal to be clean; The monarch calmly thus replied :

So shall you keep alive desire, Weigh well the cause, and then decide.

And time's Twift wing shall fan the fire. That friend of yours you lately nam'd,

In garret high (as stories say) Cupid alone, is to be blam’d;

A Poet sung his tuneful lay; Then let the charge be justly laid :

So soft, so fmooth, his verle you 'd swear That idle boy neglects his trade,

Apollo and the Mulis there : And hardly once in twenty years

Thro' all the town his praises rung; A couple to your temple bears.

His sonners at the playhouse lung; The wretches, whom your office blends, High waving o'er his lab'ring head, Silcnus now, or Plutus sends;

The goddcis Want her pinions spread, Hence care, and bitterneis, and strife,

And with poetic fury fir'd Are common to the nuptial life.

What Phævus faintly had infpir'd. Believe me! more than all mankind

A noble youth, of taste and wit, Your vot’rics my compassion find.

Approv'd the sprightly things he writ, Yet cruel ain I calld, and base,

And sought him in his cobweb doine, Who feck the wretched to release;

Discharg'd his rent, and brought him home. The captive from his bonds to free,

Behold him at the stately board! Iudiffoluble but for me.

Who but the Poet and my Lord ! 'Tis I entice him to the yoke ;

Each day deliciously he dincs, By me your crowded altars sinoke:

And greedy quatis the gen’ious wines; For mortals boldly dare the noore,

His fides were plump, his skin was sleek, Sccure that Death will set them loose.

And plenty wanton'd on his check;

Astonish'd at the change so new,
$ 314. FABLE V. The Poet and bis Patron. Away th' inspiring goddess few.
WHY, Cælia, is your spreading waist Now, dropi for politics and news,
So loose, so negligently lac'd ?

Neglected lay the drooping muse,
Why must the wrapping bed-gown hide

Unmindful whence his fortune came, Your snowy bosom's swelling pride?

He filled the poetic Alame; How ill that dress adorns your head,

Nor tale, nor sonnet, for my lady, Distain'd and rumpled from the bed!

Lampoon, nor epigram, was ready. Those clouds that shade your blooming face With just contempt his Patron saw .A little water might displace,

(Resolv'd his bounty to withdraw); As Nature ev'ry morn bestows

And thus, with anger in his look, The crystal dew to cleanie the rose.

The late-repenting fool bespoke : Those trefits, as the raven black,

Flind to the good that courts thee grown, That wav'd in ringlets down your back,

Whence has the fun of favour thone? Uncomb'd, and injur’d by neglect,

Delighted with thy tuneful art,
Destroy the face which once they deck'd. Efteem was growing in my heart;
Whence this forgetfulness of dress?

But idly thou reject'st the charm
Pray, Madam, are you married ? - Yes. That gave it birth, and kept it warm.
Nay, then indeed the wonder ceases;

Unthinking fools alone despise
No matter now how loose your dress is ; The arts that taught them first to rise.
The end is won, your fortune 's made;
Your sister now may take the trade.

FABLE VI. The Wolf, the Sheep, and Alas! what pity 'tis to find

be Lamb. This fault in ball the female kind !

DUTY demands, the parent's voice Tiom bence procccd averson, strife,

Should fanctify the daughter's choice :
And all that fours the wedded lifc.

In that is due obedience shewn;
ITo choosc, bulongs to her alone.

May

§ 315.

a

in his eyes.

a

May horror seize his midnight hour, Torn from the tyrant mother's side, Who builds upon a parent's pow'r,

The trembler goes, a victim-bride ; And claims, by purchase vile and base, Reluctant mects the rude embrace, The loathing maid for his embrace;

And blcats among the howling race. Hence vircuc fickens; and the breast,

With horror oft her eyes behold Where peace had built her downy neft, Her murder'd kindred of the fold; Becomes the troubled seat of care,

Each day a sister lamb is serv'd,
And pines with anguish and despair.

And at the glutton's table carv'd;
A Wolf, rapacious, rough, and bold, The crashing bones he grinds for food,
Whose nightly plunders thinn'd the fold, And Nakes his thirst with streaming blood.
Contemplating his ill-fpent life,

Love, who the cruel mind detests,
And clov's with thefts would take a wife. And lodges but in gentle breasts,
His purpose known, the favage race

Was now no more. Enjoyment past,
In num'rous crowds attend the place;

The favage hunger'd for the feast; For why, a mighty wolf he was,

But (as we find, in human race, And held dominion in his jaws.

A maik conceals thc villain's face) Her fav’rite whelp each mother brought, Justice must authorile the treat; And humbly his alliance fought;

Till then he long'd, but durst not eat. But cold by age, or else too nice,

As forth he walk'd in quest of prey, None found acceptance

The-hunters met him on the way : It happen'd as at early dawn,

Fear wings his figlit; the marsh he sought: He solitary cross'd the lawn,

The fouffing dogs are set at fault. Stray'd from the fold, the sportive Lamb

His stomach baulk'd, now hunger gnaws, Skipp'd wanton by her fleecy Dam;

Howling he grinds his empty jaws: When Cupid, foe to man and beaft,

Food must be had, and Lamb is nigh;
Discharg'd an arrow at his breatt.

His maw invokes the fraudful lie.
The tim'rous breed the robber knew, Is this (cliffembling rage, he cried)
And trembling o'er the incadow few; The gentle virtue of a bride :
Their nimbleit speed the Wolf o'ertook, That, Icagu'd with man's destroying race,
And courteous thus the Dam bespoke :

She sets her husbind for the chace
Siay, faireít, and fufpend your fear,

By treachry prompts the noisy hound Trust me, no enemy, is

To fcent his footsteps on the ground? These jaws, in slaughter oft imbrud,

Thou trait'rets vile! for this thy blood At length have known enough of blood; Shall glut my rage, and dye the wood ! And kinder bus'ness brings me now,

So saying, on the Lamb he flies :
Vanquilh'd, at beauty's feet to bow.

Bencath his jaws the victim dies.
You have a daughter-swect, forgive
A Wolf's addrcismin her I live;

§ 316. FABLE VII. Ibe Gooji and tre Swans. Love from her eyes like lightning came, I

HATE the face, however fair, And fet my marrow all on Hame;

That carries an alucted air; Let your consent contirm my choice,

The lisping tone, the shape conttrain'd,
And ratify our nuptial joys.

The studied look, the pallion feign'd,
Me ample wealth and pow'r attend, Are fopperies which only tend
Wide o'er the plains iny realms extends To injure what :hey strive to mend.
What midnight robber dare invade

With what fuperior grace enchants
The fold, if I the guard am made?

The face, which nature's pencil paints !
At home the thepherd's cur may beep, Wherc eyes, uncxercis'd in art,
While I secure his master's thecp.

Glow with the meaning of the heart !
Discourse like this attention claim'd;

Where freedom and good-humour sit,
Grandeur the mother's breast infam'd; And easy gaiety and wit !
Now fearless by his side the walk’d,

Though perfect beauty be not there,
Of settlements and jointurcs talk'd ;

The master lines, the finish'd air, Propos'd, and doubled her demands,

We catch from ev'ry louk delight, Of Aow'ry fields, and turnip-lands.

And grow cnamour'd at the fight : The Wolf agrees. Her bosom swells; For beauty, though we all approve, To Miss her happy fate the tells;

Excites our wonder more than love; And, of the grand alliance vain,

While the agrecable strikes sure,
Contemns her kindred of the plain.

And gives the wounds we cannot curc.
The loathing Lamb with horror hears, Why then, my Amorct, this care,
And wearies out her Dam with pray’rs ; That forms you, in effect, less fair?
But all in vain; mamma best knew

It nature on your check bestows
What unexperienc'd girls should do.

A bloom that emulates the rofc,
So, to the neighb'ring meadow carried, Or from fomc heavenly image drew
A formal ass the couple married.

A form Apelles never knew,

Your

ncar:

M4

Your ill-judged aid will you impart,

§ 317. FABLE VII. The Lawyer and Juftice. And spoil by meie:ricious art? Or had you, nature's error, coine

LOVE! thou divineft good below! Abortive from the mother's womb,

Thy pure delights fow mortals know: Your forming care the still rejects,

Our rebel hearts thy sway disown, Which only heightens her defects.

While tyrant !ust ulurps thy throne.

The Counteous God of nature made When such, of glittring jewels proud,

The sexes for cach other's aid; Still prets the foremost in the crowd,

Their mutual At ev'ry public show are seen,

alents to employ,

To letfen ills, and heighten joy.
With look awry, and awkward mien,

To weaker woman he affign’d
The gaudy drets attracts the eye,
And magnifies deformity.

That soft'ning gentleness of mind,
Nature may underdo her part,

That can by Tympathy impart But seldom wants the help of art;

Its likeness to the roughest heart. Trust her, she is your furest friend,

Her eyes with magic pow's endued,

To fre the dull, and awe the rude.
Nor made your form for you io mend,
A Goole, affected, empty, vain,

His rofy fingers on her face
The thrilleft of the cackling train,

Shed lavish ev'ry bloomy grace, With proud and elevated crett,

And stamp'd (perfection to display) Precedence cialin'd above the rest.

His mildert image on her clay. Says she; I laugh at human race,

Man, active, resolute, and bold, Who say ge fe hobble in their pace;

He fashion'd in a diff rent mould,

With useful arts his mind informid,
Look liere!--the fland'rous lye detect ;.
N haughty man is so erect.

His brealt with nobler pallions warm'd ;
That peacock vonder! Lord, how rain

He gave hiin knowledge, taste, and senie, The creature 's of his gaudy train !

And courage for the fair's defence. If both were stript, I pawn my word

Her frame, refiftless to each wrong, A goose would be the finer wird.

Demands protection from the strong i Nature, to hide her own defects,

To man Ihc flies when fear alarms,

And claims the temple of his arms.
Her bungled work with finery decks;
Were geese ler osf with half that show,

By nature's Author thus declar'd
Would inen admire the peacock? No.

The woman's sov'reign and her guard, Thus vaunting, 'cross the mead Me stalks,

Shall man by treach'rous wiles invade

The weakness he was meant to aid?
The cache liog breed attend her waiks;
The sun Thot down his n009-tide beams,

While beauty, given to inspire
The Swans ! cre sporting in the streams;

Protecting love, and soft desire, Their frowy plumes and stately pride

Lights up a wild-fire in the heart, Provok'd her spleen. Why there, the cried,

And to its own breast points the dart, Again what arrogance we lee!

Becomes the spoiler's base pretence Tho'e crestures' how they mimic me! ,

To triumph over innocence. Shall ev'ry foul the water skin,

The wolf, that tears the tim'rous sheep, Because we geefe are known to Twiin!

Was never fit the fold to keep; Humility they foon ihall learn,

Nor was the tiger, or the pard, And their own empuiness difcern.

Meant the benighted travöller's guard ; So saying, with extended wings,

But man, the wildest beast of prey, Lighly upon the wave the springs;

Wears friendship’s semblance to betray; Her bofom livells. The fpreads her plumes,

His strength against the weak employs ;

And where he should protect, detiroys. and the fu an's itatciy creat allumes. Contempi and morkorn entier,

Paft twelve o'clock, the watchman cried And bursts of laughter took the food.

His brief the studious Lawyer plied; A Swan, fuperior to the rest,

The all-prevailing fee lay nigh, Sprung forth, and thus the fool address'd;

The earnest of to-morrow's lie. Conceited thing, clate with pride!

Sudden the furious winds arise, Thy affectation all deride :

The jarring casement shatter'd Aies;

The doors admit a hollow sound,
These airs thy awkwardnes impart,
And thew the plainly as thou ait.

And rattling from their hinges bound;

When Justice, in a blaze of light, Among the equals of the Hock

Reveal'd her radiant form to sight. Thou luadit efcap'd the publii inock;

The wretch with thrilling horror shook And, as thy parts to good conduce,

i Pecu dec.n's an honett hobbling goose.

Loote ev'ry joint, and pale his look; Learn hence to study widom s rules;

Not having seen her in the courts,

Or found her mention'd in reports,
K101, foppery is the pride of fools;
And, ftriving nature to conceal,

He ask’d, with fault'ring tongue, her name,

Her errand there, and whence she caine ? You oniy her defycts reveal.

Sternly

7

MORA L. Sternly the white-rob’d Shade replicd Can't I another's face commend, (Acrimion glow her visage dyed):

Or to her virtues be a friend, Cart trou be doubtful who I am ?

But instantly your forehead lours,
Is Justice groun fo ftrange a name?

As if her merit letlen'd yours?
Were not your courts for Justice rais'd ? From female cnvy never free,
'Tis was there, of old, iny altars blaz'd. All must be blind because you fee.
My guardian thee I did elcét,

Survey the garden, fields, and bow'rs, My sacred temple io protect,

The buds, the bloffoms, and the flow'rs; That thou and all thy venal tribe,

Then tell me where the woodbine grows Should spurn the goddess for the bribe.

That vits in swectness with the rose; Aloud the ruin'd client cries,

Or where the lily's snowy white, Justice has neither tars nor eyes;

That throws such beauties on the right? In foul alliance with the bar,

Yet felly is it to declare, 'Gainst me the judge denounces war,

That those are neither sweet nor fair. And rarely issues his decree

The crystal shines with fainter rays But with intent to baille me.

Before the diamond's brighter blaze; She paus’d-her breast with fury burn'd; And fops will say the diamond dies The trembling Lawyer thus return'd:

Before the lustre of your eyes : I own the charge is justly laid,

But I, who deal in truth, deny And weak th' cxcuse that can be made ;

That neither thine when you are by. Yet search the spacious glcle, and see

When zephyrs o'er the blossom Itray, If all mankind are not like me,

And sweets along the air convey, The gown-man, skill'd in Romih lies, Sha'n't I the fragrant breeze inhale, By faith's falic glass deludes our eyes ;

Because

you

breathe a sweeter gale ? O'er conscience rides without controul,

Sweet are the How'rs that deck the field; And robs the man to save his soul.

Siveet is the smell the blotloms yield; The doctor, with important face,

Sweet is the summer gale that blows; By fly delign mistakes the case ;

And fweet, tho'sweeter you, the rose. P'rescribes, and spins out the disease,

Shali envy then torincnt your breast, To trick the patient of his fees.

If you are lovelier than the rest ? The soldier, rough with many a scar,

For while I give to endi her due, And red with slaughter, leads the war ;

By praising them I Hatier you; If he a nation's truit betray,

And praising most, I still declare The foe has pferd double pay.

You fairtit, where the rest are fair. When vice o'er all mankind prevails,

As at his board a Farmer sate, And weighty int'rest turus the icales,

Replenith d by his homely treat, Must I be better than the rest,

His fav’rite Spaniel near him ftood, And I.arbour Jupice in my breas?

And with his master shar'd the food ; On one side only take the fee,

The crackling bones his jaus devour'd, Content with porerty ayı! thee?

His larping tongue the trenchers scour'd; Thou blind to sense, and vile of mind,

Till, lared now, lupine he lay, Th' exasperated Shade rejoin'd,

And Inor'd the riling fumes away. If virtue from the world is own,

The hungry Cat, in turn Irew near, Will other's faults excuse thy own!

And humbiy crav'd a ferva ts thare; For fickly fouls the priest was made ;

Her modeft worth the Master know, Physicians for the body's aid;

And straight the fa'e'ning morsel threw : The soldier guarded liberty ;

Enrag'd, the snailing Cur awoke, Man, woman, and the lawyer me.

And thus with tpitetui envy spoke: If all are faithlefs to their ruft,

They only claim a right to cat,

Who earn by services their ineat ;
They leave not thee the less unjust.
Henceforth your pleadings I disclaim,

Me, zeal and induttry intame
And bar thé fanction of iny name ;

To fcour the fields, and spring the game; Within your courts it hall be read,

Cr, plunged in the ain'ry ware, That Justice from the law is fied.

For man ire wounded bid to save. She spoke; and hid in shades her face,

With watchrul diligence I keep
Till Hardwicke footh'd her into grace.

From prowling wolves his fieccy sheep;
At home his midnight hours secure,

And drive the robber from the door : $ 318. FABLE 1X. The Farmer, the Spaniel, For this jis brcast with kindness glows, and the Cat.

For this his hand the food bestows; WHY knits my dear her angry brow ? And ihalil thy indolence impart

What rude offence alarms you now? A varmer friend thip to his heart, I said that Delia's fair, 'tis true,

That thus he robs me of my duc, But did Ify the squall'd you?

To pamper luch vile things as you !

a

FABLE X.

I own (with meekness Puss replied) And thus began: Mean thing! give o'cr, Superior merit on your side ;

And lay thy slender threads no more; Nor does my breast with envy swell,

A thoughtlefs fly or two, at moft, To find it recompenc'd so well;

Is all the conquest thou canst boast; V'et I, in what my nature can,

For becs of sense thy arts evade, Contribute to the good of man.

We see so plain the nets are laid. Whole claws dellroy the pilf’ring mouse? The gaudy tulip, that displays Who drives the vermin froin the house? Her spreading foliage to gaze; Or, watchful for the lab'ring swain,

That points her charms at all the fees, From lurking rars secures the grain ?

And yields to ev'ry wanton breeze, From hence if he rewards bestow,

Attracts not me; where blushing grows, Way fiould your heart with gall o’erflow? Guarded with thorns, the moleft rose, Why pine my happiness to see,

Enamour'd, round and round I fly, Since there's enough for you and me?

Or on her fragrant bofom lie; Thy words are just, the Farmer cried, Reluctant the my ardour meets, And spurn'd the snarler from his side.

And bathful renders up her fivcets.

To wiser beads attention lend, $ 319. The Spider and the Bee.

And learn this lesion from a friend :

She who with modeftv retires,
THE nymph who walks the public streets,
And fets her cap at all the meets,

Adds fuel to her lover's fires;
May catch the fool who turns to stare ;

While such incautious jilts as you
But men of tense avoid the snare.

By folly your own schemes undo.
As on the margin of the food,
With filken line, my Lydia stood,

§ 320. FABLE XI, The Young Lion and tbc Apes I fmild to see the pains she took

true, I blame your lover's choice, To cover o'cr the fraudful hook.

Though flatter'd by the public voice; Along the forest as we stray d,

And peevish gruw, and sick, to hear You law the boy his lime-tivigs spread ; His exclamations, o how fair! Guess'd you the reason of his fear,

I liften not to wild delights, Left, heedless, we approach too near ?

And transports of expected nights; For, as bchind the bush we lay,

What is to me your hoard of charins, The linnet flutter'd on the spray.

The whiteness of your neck and arms ? Needs there fuch caution to delude

Needs there no acquisition more The caly frv, and feather'd brood ?

To keep contention from the door? And think you, with inferior art,

Yes; pass a fortnight, and you 'll find To captivate the human heart?

All beauty cloys but of the mind. The maid who modestly conceals

Sense and good-huinour ever prove Her beauties, while the hides, reveals.

The fureft cords to faften love. Give but a glimpse, and fancy draws

Yet, Phillis, simplest of your sex, Whate'er the Grecian Venus was.

You never think but to perplex; From Eve's first fig-leaf to brocade,

Coquetting it with ev'ry ape All dress was meant for fancy's aid;

That struts abroad in human shape; Which evermore delighted dwells

Not that the coxcomb is your taste. On what the bashful nymph conceals.

But that it stings your lover's breaft. When Celia struts in man's attire,

To-morrow you resign the sway,
She thews too much to raise desire ;

Prepar'd to honour and obey.
But, from the hoop's bewitching round, The tyrant mistress change for life,
Her very Moe has pow'r to wound.

To the submittion of a wife.
The roving eye, the bosom bare,

Your follies, if you can, suspend, The forward laugh, the wanton air,

And learn instruction from a friend ; May catch the fop; for gudgcons strike

Reluctant hear the first address, Arche bare hook and bait alike;

Think often cre you answer Yes ; While Talmon play regardless by,

But, once resolv'd, throw off disguise, Till art like nature forms the fiy.

And wear your wishes in your eyes; Beneath a peatant's homely thatch

With caution ev'ry look forbear A Spider long had held her watch ;

That might create one jealous fear, From morn to night, with restless care, A lover's ripening hopes confound, She spun her web, and wove her snare.

Or give the gen'rous breast a wound; Within the limits of her reign

Contemn the girlish arts to teaze, Lay many a heedless captive liain ;

Nor use your pow'r, unless to please ; Or flutt ring struggled in the toils,

For fools alone with rigour sway, To burst the chains, and thun her wiles. When, foon or late, they must obey. A straying Bee, that perch'd hard by,

The King of brutes, in life's decline, Bcheld her with dildainful eye,

Refolu'd dominion to resign ;

The