rupture enters death And air confind now flys with vitall breath Then spake the son over his gasping sire Hadst thou contented been With this thy little Inn Not aiming higher Here thou hadst seen Good days agen But thou like Icarus didst too much aspire On thy Kings neck hast trod Now th' Oxe th' Egyptian God Strov'st to be like so the proud Angels fell And though in Heaven not knew when they were well MORALL To strive what seems impossible to get A Supererogation is of wit Not follie now when every day we see What men thought once impossible to be 14 15 THE FOURTEENTH FABLE Of the Woolf and the Lamb. IT fortun'd the fierce Woolf and tender Lamb Vex'd with high noon and Phaebus scorching flame To quench their thirst to one cool river came To whom the Woolf betwixt his draughts with slow Yet rancourous speech thus spake How dar'st thou blow My drink and with thy feet up gravell throw Son of a rotten Sire how durst thou slave To cruell man who with thy fleece doth save Himself from cold fowl this cleer silver wave The Lamb astonish'd struck with suddain fear To see his glowing eys and brizly hair Said Sir be patient and your anger spare I humbly crave your pardon that so neer And at one time with you I water here Yet under favour still your stream is cleer I am beneath Sir if you please to note And from your mouth to mine the waters float It passeth yours before it touch my throat The fell Woolf grind his eys like firebrands glow Oh cursed race he said to mine a foe Still plotting harmlesse Wolves to overthrow Thy father mother sacrilegious Lamb And all thy bleating kindred from the damne Stile themselves guiltlesse but I guilty am And none dare say you in Wolves habit come And tear dead bodies from the new built tombe And poor Woolves then for your offences doome Dogs once our brethren cursed Curs you lead Against our race who now will heare us plead When you 'r the cause of all the blood is shed Now by our King Lycaons crown I swear So wrong'd by that rebellious Jupiter Affronted thus no longer I le forbear Thus having said at the poor Lamb he flys His cruell teeth a purple river dies While warm blood spurtles in his face and eys MORALL They that have power to doe may when they will Pick quarrels and pretending justice kill Who hunt for blood and spoyl need not invent New crimes but lay their own on th' innocent 16 THE FIFTEENTH FABLE Of the Woolf and the Crane BUt while the Woolf devour'd the innocent Lamb Raising her voice and eys to heaven the damne Implor'd revenge Pan from the shepherds coat To Menalus heard and fixd a bone in 's throat He wonders what obstructs who warder stood Stopping so old a thorough-fare of blood What shall he doe or where now find a cure Great was the danger nor could he indure The pain while he ore hill and dale did passe To native realms where his own Surgeon was When on a rising banck hard by he spi'd Beline the Ram he could but be deni'd And though his teeth blushd with the purple gore Of his dear son slain neer his mothers dore Yet he would trie in some mischances foes Will with our friends commiserate our woes Upon this score he went and thus bespoak The King and horned father of the flock Sir may your wives be numerous and bear Twins alwaies and be pregnant twice a year And may your beauteous son who on youn banck Conferr'd with me where we together drank Be golden fleec'd and when his horns grow large To thousand Yews a husbands love discharge 'T is true our nations long at ods have been Yet why should publick jars raise private spleen Let there my Lord no personall difference be Or strive we let us strive in Courtesie Favours may purchace love love peace may win Quarrels may end since once they did begin Suspecting plots his Bell wise Beline rung When troops of Rams to guard his person throng Then said Your businesse Sir be brief and know It must be lawfull that I grant a foe When with dejected look thus Isgrim spake A bone sticks crosse my throat some pity take And draw it forth and when the silver Moon Makes low-browd night faintly resemble noon The Goddess I le beseech you never may Want Grasse in Summer nor in Winter Hay No floods in Autumn no destructive cold Send scabs nor rots depopulate your fold And She will hearken to our pious race Oft when She swounds and notes of tinckling brasse Cannot recall nor colour her pale lips Our cries have rescu'd from a dark Eclipse Then Beline said Impudent Woolf be gone Who knows but late thou hast some murther done And this a judgment due to thy desert On paine of death our quarters leave depart Thus to the shaggie Goat he did complain To the swift Dear and the dull Oxe in vain They all refuse and say no punishment On ravening Wolves can be unjustly sent When stalking through the Marsh he meets the Crane Low-Country people know no God but gain To whom the Woolf thrice Congeeing began May your plum'd Phalanx passe the Ocean To Northern Regions safe and landing there May all the Pigmie kingdoms shake with fear And may you Conqueror ore the dwarfish ranks Triumph on Strymon or Caysters bancks But to your friend be kind and draw a bone Sticks in his throat ingratefull i 'm to none Then I le a Trout present thee sweet and good Cleans'd in a silver stream and free from mud If that not satisfie most noble Crane To please thy Pallat this whole Fen I le drain He undertakes the cure nor pluck'd he oft With his long bill but Isgrim's well and cough'd The Bird demands his pay the Woolf at that With a sowr smile repli'd Sir Crane for what For plucking out a bone are thy demands Thou might'st have stretch'd fool on these yellow sands Vent'ring thy long bill in my throat thy head I freely gave thank me thou art not dead Or come and draw another out though loath I shall reward thee nobly then for both When to himself the griev'd Crane mourning said Great favours thus are by th' ingratefull paid MORALL So Merchants having scap'd a dangerous Sea Mocks to their Saints for promis'd offerings pay But some more impious having touch'd dry land Think they performe to let their Statues stand THE SIXTEENTH FABLE Of the Husband-man and the Serpent WHen a cold storm confirm'd the trembling bogs And drove to warmer springs the naked Frogs With 's prong on 's back a simple farmer Boldly goes Through frost and snows Ice on 's beard fire in 's nose A freeze jerkin all his armour To feed Sheep and Cattell fodder Where by chance he found Frozen to the ground Stretch'd at length a dying Adder The cruell Serpent under deaths arrest Strange but the Fable hath sufficient test He takes and in his bosome
wondrous fortune Erswind stil'd She married Isgrim and if fame be true Him a she Woolf bore to a wandring Jew Who by his humane nature got the hint Of Wolvish discipline in Geneva Print And his mad zeale first made the Forrest blaze This by his howling Rhetorick did raise Arms ' gainst his King did antient right supplant And made Beasts take a beastly Covenant This Urchins calld and stird up senslesse Moles And innocent Sheep inspir'd with Woolvish souls Then Femals like milch Tygers first were seen To rage against the Lyonesse their Queen Steers Colts and Asses did like Panthers stare And Buls horn-mad for Reformation were When Erswind with a blessed Of-spring big Weary with Lamb and Mutton long'd for Pig And thus She howld to move her surly Mate Swines flesh I loath with a Maternall hate Yet for the Of-spring of the Salvage Boar The fat Priests Quarter which I keep in store Which at my lying in I meant should feast My Mother and her Calydonian guest Now I would give to see one Pig depart To eat the Liver and the bleeding Heart When the grim sire reply'd Leave off complaints Afflictions have been wholesome to the Saints But if the Boar her Husband be abroad My mortall Foe by force or pious fraud I le get thee one no scruple is in meat And thou and I abundantly will eat This said he hasts unto the spreading Oke Where lay a pregnant Sow and kindly spoke Sister your Husband hath great service done And by his valour we the victory won But since I hear your Spouse in Countries far Must for small pay attend a lingering War And this your charge is great take friendly helps Some of your Sons I le foster with my Whelps Not in prophaner Arts like Popish Pigs To pettietoe-it on the Organs Jigs When Surplic'd Asses chaunt it to the Lyre Nor they supine shall wallow in the Mire But Pastors be and them I le teach to keep The Sheepish souls of flocks and shear the Sheep They have Prick-ears and as we Teachers wear Howling in hollow trees such is their Hair The Brawny Dame did here break off all speech If you are such a friend Sir I beseech You 'l shew it in your absence nothing more Can me and mine oblige back twentie score That is the greatest favour you can doe You hate all Swine and I abhorre a Jew I hear him whet his tusk the Boar is neer And you have taken a wrong Sow by th' eare Cowring his tail endeavouring to have fled Wings fear not added to his feet but Lead Whom suddainly the angry Boar ore-took Him at whose rage the Lyons partie shook No more resistance than a tender Lamb Made ' gainst this foe whom streight he overcame And with his phang a Window in his side To Flanck from Shoulder rent where as he dy'd The deep Hypocrisie and bloodie ends Writ in his heart were read by foes and friends Soon after that the Boar the Wood enjoy'd And Wolves as new Malignants be destroyd MORALL Mischiefs best Plots Women too oft have laid And tender Females soonest are betraid Some great Seducers make a timely end But oftner they in bloodie sheets descend 72 THE SEVENTIE SECOND FABLE Of the She Goat and Kid. A She Goat Widowed by Civill War As many other wofull Matrons are Although her sequestration a small fine Had taken off Had little cause to laugh For when she rose she knew not where to dine Which made cold cups be Seasond oft with brine One Son she had now Heir Just of his Fathers Haire Her comfort and her care But what did most extoll this gentle Kid He did All the Commands which his dear Mother bid When to her only hope the Parent said I goe dear Child subsistance must be had Where I for thee will crop the tender Bud And search the ground For Moon-wort rarely found Which from our wounds draws steel stops the blood A Soveraign Med'cine and a dainty food But Kid when I am gone Open the Gate to none To friend nor foe not one The Woolf although the Boar hath brought him low I know His Nature keeps and will no mercy shew Shall I forget how he thy father slew When from the Cambrian Hils a Goatish Crew Of British Long-beards with three Sons he lead He pierc'd his throat And dronk his best blood hot Then on his Bowels and his Liver fed As ill woes me thy haplesse brethren sped When down their arms they threw Quarter being granted too Most barbarously he slew And in his Den their Limbs in pieces tore Nay more With their gnawn bones he pav'd his bloodie flore This said away she speeds The Woolf who long Had watch his time skild in the Goatish tongue On 's loyns the British Captains spoils did guird With his fair horns His horrid Brow adorns Down from his Chin hung a long silver Beard As if the King and Father of the Heard Accoutred thus before At the dull Goatheards dore He oft drank Kiddish gore When thus disguis'd with feigned voice he spoke Unlock Long-beard is here the Father of the Flock I live whom Fame reported dead and bring Good tydings never better was the King The Lyon now is fourty thousand strong Enumerous swarms Both old and young take arms And he will thunder at their Gates ere long Changing their tryumph to a dolefull Song And now the Conquering Boar Of those subu'd before Doth speedie aid implore But the dissenting Brethren in one Fate Too late Shall rue they turnd this Forrest to a State Whom Pan his Parents and his King obey'd Duty Belief and Piety betraid And boulted dores he suddainly unbars The Woolf rush'd in Throwing off his borrowd Skin His eys with rage blazing like ominous Stars Which threaten Earth with Famine Plague and Wars Then on the expected prize With open mouth he flies His jaws sweet purple dies When thus th' Insulter did the Kid upbraid And said Let all thus perish wish the Lyon aid MORALL First Gods commands your Parents next obey A thousand Snares Pride Lust and Avarice lay But other arts now taught in modern Schools Stile all our wise and pious Fathers Fools 73 THE SEVENTIE THIRD FABLE Of the Youngman and the Cat. GRimmalkins Grand-child Tyberts Noble race For Beauty gave no Cattish Damsell place Round was her face Her Eys were Grey as Germans or the Gaul The Stars that fall Through gloomy shade cast no such dazeling light Nor Gloeworms that most glorious are by night Her Bosome soft and white Like down of Silver Swans her Head was small And round as any Ball Daily she wore a party-collourd gown Curiously mix'd with white black grey and brown Stoln from her Mothers Teat a young man bred This Femall up and laid her in his Bed Each Morning fed And Evening with warm strokings from the Cow Would Fish allow But not to wet her tender feet afford She may in pleasant Gardens catch a Bird Or make afeard
face The Eagle by advantages of height Both salvage and domestick put to flight The treacherous Bat was in the battell took All hate the traitors look He never must display Again his wings by day But hated live in some foul dustie nook Cause he his Country in distresse forsook MORALL Wisemen are valiant and of honest minds Treacherous subtile and explore all winds Or King or State their ruin they 'l indure May they from Sequestration be secure 30 THE THIRTIETH FABLE Of the Jay and Peacocks WHo hath not heard of that most cruell fight When by the Eagle beasts were put to flight When from supplies fell in at setting sun Of Harpies Furies and sad Birds of night Tygers like Steers like Sheep bold Lyons run Then first on Birds and Beasts men to the height Did feasts themselves and they who often preyd On slaughter'd armies now a prey are made ' Mongst other chances of that dreadfull day A wing of Peacocks was discomfited Their valiant leader ' mongst the formost lay His Angel-plumes dy'd with his own blood red This had a Page a proud and foolish Jay Whom from an Egge he in his nest had bred This strips his Lord and boldly then assumes His train of Argos eys and gaudie plumes When to the Eagles Court the proud Jay got And like a Turkie-Cock struts up and down Suing to draw in Juno's Chariot As if those gaudie feathers were his own With love fair Pea-hens here he follows hot Keeps company with noble birds or none Among the Wits and Braveries did sit And would be strange a bravery and a wit His tongue condemn'd to everlasting prate Boasting his Beauty Wealth and better notes Brought on him first Suspicion after Hate Peacocks though Angels plumes have Devils throats At last they strip him as he chattering sate Of his fairy feathers and his guadie coats Naked and banish'd from the court of birds He to a dolefull note compos'd these words I stand the true example of vain pride Since I the Jayish nation did despise Not only noble Birds will me deride But I shall be a scorne to Jacks and Pies Not Tyrian robes can birth and breeding hide Let their own fortune still content the wise And let all those that climb above their place Strip'd like me and suffer such disgrace MORALL Whether Ambition Vertue be or Vice Hath rais'd great disputations 'mong the nice Who by unseen gradations reach a crown Heroes are stil'd but Traitors tumbling down 31 THE ONE AND THIRTIETH FABLE Of the Woolves and Sheep THe Wolves Sheep great Nations both strong Had long A mighty War maintain'd Great slaughter oft there was of old and young With various chance yet none the better gain'd Finding their strength decay'd their treasure drain'd With one consent Commissioners are chose That might so great a difference compose And joyn in lasting leagues such antient foes Long they not sate when they conclude a peace On these Few articles they streight agreed The Wolves should give their Whelps up hostages The Sheep their Dogs their stout Molossian breed And then they might in fields at pleasure feed The Woolvish bands should sally forth no more From Wood nor Hill no Woolf come neer the dore To this hornd * The Ram. Beline and fierce * The Wolf Isgrim swore And now on pleasant plains themselves the Sheep Doe keep No Dog of War to guard the Coat All seem secure they eat and drink and sleep When the young Woolves extend a hungry throat Wanting their dams and raise a dismall note Woolves crie the peace is broke and like a showr Fell in their quarters and whole Flocks devour Neither to friend nor foe give up your power MORALL Not Hostages though Sons the foe can bind If they an evident advantage find Let Mothers weep dye Children suffer Friends The Ambitious vallews nothing but his ends 32 THE TWO AND THIRTIETH FABLE Of the Woolf and the Fox THat night what slaughter did the fields imbrew When from the Woods Hils the Woolvish crew Pretending rescue of their cursed brood Howling the peace was broke Fell on the guiltlesse flock And satisfi'd their ravening jaws with blood They who a solemn League and Cov'nant swore But one short day before Then slew Ram Beline at the Shepherd's dore And with him slaughterd many thousands more 'Mong these was one whom Woolves themselves did call For rapine Plunder-Master-Generall This having stuft in that great Massacer His den with fattest Sheep Resolves a feast to keep And sit in State alone like Kings to fare When with self-kindnesse struck he thus began I fear nor Dog nor Man I scorn the Swain and Sheep-Protector Pan Soul take thy rest doe they the worst they can A crafty Fox who strickt account did keep Of those well-fed and golden-fleeced Sheep He by the horns that night to 's den had drawn Two days and long nights waits Expecting open gates When with the greedy worme his bowels gnawn Aloud he calls Ho! Collonel how d' ye fare Be pleas'd to take the air And since the Woolvish army Conquerors are Keep not within nor spirits waste with care The Woolf perceiv'd the Fox desir'd to feast And in his absence make himself a guest When with a heavy grone he thus returns Ah dearest Cousen I Am sick am like to die In a hot Feavour all my body burns In that nights service I provok'd with zeale To serve the Common-weale After much toyl would needs stand Centinell Where I took cold which did my blood congeale In my stopd veins rules adventitious heat Swift doth my pulse like an alarum beat My throat so drie that Seas of Sheepish bloud Which still did use to cure The Woolvish Calenture Commix'd with humane gore will doe no good Desire not to come in Cosen I fear 'T is dangerous spots appear My short breath tels me my departure's neer Ah! that I had some zealous Pastor here Thin hunger now gives place to swelling rage Thirst of revenge spurs Reynard to engage With mortall foes who streight thus calls a Swain Ho! Shepherd come away Make this a holy-day The Woolf by whom such losse you did sustain I le bring you to be pleas'd to Fancy then Me with his goods and den And cleer my score of Lamb Kid Goose and Hen. The Shepherd grants and calls his Dogs and men Mean while the Woolf did sit at joyfull feasts When at his gates he heard no welcome guests Repeated surfeits oft make courage fail Up starts his briefly hair His fiery eys now stare And Cowring 'twixt his legs he claps his tail But out he must and venture to the field No quarter Shepherds yield His pamper'd belly made him leaden heeld That ere he ran six score the Woolf was kild This done the man sets on his Dogs again And Reynard seiz'd who dying did complain I the sad Embleme am of rancourous spight The foolish Fox repind Because the Woolf had dind So well alone and would not him
Hands Refuse to put on Gloves the vexd Foot stands Mean while the Stomach was come down and cries What once a hollow Tooth serv'd would suffice The streightend Maw one bit one crum bestow But still the moodie Members answer No. At last an extreme feeblenesse they felt Saw all but skin and their hard bones to melt A pale Consumption Lording over all At which a Counsell the faint Brethren call The Stomach must be fed which now was so Contracted that like them it answer'd No. At which pale Death her cold approaches made When to the dying Feet the weak Hands said Brethren in evill since we did deny The Bellie food we must together die All that are Members in a Common-wealth Should more than Private aim at Publick health The Rich the Poor and Poor the Rich must aide None can protect themselves with their own shade None for themselves are Born we brought in food Which the kind Stomach did prepare for Blood The Liver gave it tincture the great Vein Sends it in thousand severall streams again To feed the parts which there assimulates Concord builds high when Discord ruins States But the chief cause did our destruction bring Was we Rebell'd ' gainst Reason our true King MORALL Civill Commotions strongly carried on Seldome bring Quiet when the War is done Then thousand Interests in strange shapes appear And through all ways to certain Ruine steer 48 THE EIGHT AND FOURTIETH FABLE Of the Horse and laden Asse DEear Brother Horse so heavy is my load That my galld back Is like to crack Some pitty take Or I shall perish in the road For thy fair Sisters sake Who once did bear To me a Son a Mule my hopefull Heir Assistance lend My burthen share Or else a cruell end Waits on thy fellow servant and thy friend Here I must lye And die The tird Asse said to th' empty Horse went by Prick'd up with Pride and Provender the Horse Deni'd his aid Shall I he said My own back lade And hurt my self stird up with fond remorse My prudent Master laid This on thee who Better than you or I know's what to doe My Sister Mare Was given to you Our Nobler race to spare The Asse and Mule must all the burthens bear I must no pack Nor sack But my dear Master carry on my back This said Heart-broak the Asse fell down and di'd The Master streight Laid all the weight On his proud Mate And spread above the Asses hide Repenting but too late The Horse then said Thou wert accurs'd didst not thy Brother aid Now on my back Th' whole burthens laid Such Mortals goodnesse lack And Counsell which their Friends distrest not aid Had I born part The smart Had been but small which now must break my Heart MORALL People that under Tyrant Scepters live Should each to other kind Assistance give The Rich the Poor still over-Taxd should aid Lest on their Shoulders the whole burthens laid 49 THE NINE AND FOURTIETH FABLE Of the Fox and the Cock. SOon as the Fox to Pullein-furnish'd Farms Approaches made Though valiant Chanticleere not trusting Arms Nor humane aid Ascends a tree Where he Stood safe from harms Loud was the Cackle at no false Alarms From ground About him round For safety all his feather'd Household Flock When Reynard thus spake to the wary Cock O thou through all the world for vallour fam'd Hast thou not heard What our two Kings so lately have proclaim'd Both Beast and Bird At Amity Must be War which enflam'd Since Adams fall all creatures wild and tam'd Must cease In lasting Peace The cruell Lyon and the Eagle then Will joyn their force against more cruell Men. The sacrilegious Woolf in graves must feed And Birds of prey With humane slaughter must supply their need The Popinjay Needs not to bauk The Hauke The Lamb and Kid ' Mongst hungry Bears may in dark Forests feed At Feasts Both Birds and Beasts Begin to meet the Cat with Linnets plays And Griffons Dine where tender Heifers graze Therefore most Noble Chanticleer descend And though your Spurs Maintaining Pullein Quarters once did rend My tender Furs When Feathers I Made fly I 'm now your friend Unlesse we strive in love let us contend No more Though Reynard's poor He 's faithfull to his trust and boldly can Affirme no Beast is half so false as Man The Cock long weary of devasting War And fierce Alarms Well knowing what outrages committed are By Civill Arms And how the Man Had slain To mend his fare His Off-spring yet pretending love and care Right glad To him then said I meet your love Sir Reynard and descend To choose 'mong Beasts rather than Men a friend While the Cock spake a pack of cruell Hounds The Fox did hear And saw them powdering down from Hilly grounds After a Deer Reynard not stays Delays Are dangerous found But earth's himself three fathome underground At last The Dogs being past All danger ore again he did appear Then to the Fox return'd spake Chanticleer Learned Sir Reynard if the words be true Which you have said Why did these Dogs the trembling Deer pursue They should have staid Like enemies From these You also flew Then said the Fox though I th' agreement drew So late This Act of State Came forth I fear they th' Edict did not hear But I shall trounce them have they kild the Deer The Cock reply'd but I le make good this tree Is it now true then 't will to morrow be MORALL To what we like we easy credit give This makes us oft from foes feignd news beleive Fame mighty Holds hath took and storm'd alone And false Reports whole Armies overthrown 50 THE FIFTIETH FABLE Of the Lyon and the Forester VAst Forrests and great Cities opend when Betwixt wild Beasts and Men A long Cessation was And it was then That Citizens and Rusticks viewd the Lyons Den At his vast Courts amaz'd Where now fat Buls Colts and tame Asses graz'd Through desarts Travellers took the nearest way Where with their Spaniels wanton Tygers play Foxes 'mong Geese Wolves 'mong fat Weathers lay At Skinners Shops the Bear unmuzeld calls Cheapning on furnished Stals His friend or Cozens fur In common Halls Panthers behold themselves on stately Pedistals And now no Yeoman Cur Nor Sergeant mastive Beasts indebted stir The Woods Inhabitants wander every where And brizly Boars walk safe with untouch'd eare After the Proclamation they did hear When the great Lyon met a Forester With whom he oft in War Had strove with various chance This with a spear The Lyon gald that would his strong-spun ambush tear Then boldly up advance And with his teeth in sunder bite the lance To whom the Lyon said Sir you and I Could nere decide our strength by victory Let us dispute and it by Logick trie Then said the Woodman let us wave dispute Antiquity shall doo 't Behold Mausolus toomb And then be mute If the worlds wonder by example thee confute There let
annuall Feasts When barbarous cups must raise his Salvage Guests Call forth thy Dogs and a fresh War begin Then Gold receive for slaughter'd Bruine's Skin Then said the Woodman Wilt thou buy I le sell The Devils hide and bring it thee from Hell For ready Mony come and give me Coyn And the Bears Skin though now he lives is thine And thou shalt goe along and see the sport And how I le rowse him from his shadie Court I le make him pay now for my slaughterd Bees Here they strike hands and Gold the earnest is Then in vast Woods to Hunt they both prepare The valiant For'ster trusts his new ground Spear The Citizen more wary takes a tree Neer Bruines Cave where he might safely see The Dogs are streight sent in such ranting Guest So troubled Bruine newly gone to rest That to the Tarriers he resigns his Cave At whose dire Gates the Woodman with a Glave Did ready stand thinking to give the blow Should his Staffe Crimson in the dying Foe When his foot slip'd his sure hand fails his Spear Leaves him to mercy of the cruell Bear Fainting or feigning to the ground he fell As one struck dead then with a hideous yell Came the incensed and arrested him With his great paw to tear him limb from limb Fully resolv'd he brake the peace he slew The King his Guest and watch'd to kill him too But when he nuzling laid his Nose to ground And from his Mouth nor Lip no passage found For vitall Breath nor saw his Breast and Sides To Ebe and Flow with life-respiring tides Scorning to wreak vain anger on the dead To Man more cruell he this lecture read Let Wolvish Monsters rip up putrid graves Of buried Foes and be old malice slaves Although thou soughtst my life when thou didst live Thy friends shall thee due rites of Funerall give I War not with the Dead thus having said He coverts in the Woods protecting shade When from the tree the Skinner did descend And having rows'd almost from death his friend He thus began Good Sir what was 't the Bear Spake when so long he whisper'd in your ear Who answer'd Bruine said I did not well Before the Bear was slain his Skin to sell MORALL Fortune assists the bold the valiant Man Oft Conquerour proves because he thinks he can But who too much flattering successes trust Have faild and found their honour in the dust 53 THE THREE AND FIFTIETH FABLE Of the Tortoise and the Frogs WOuld it not grieve one still to goe abroad Yet ever be within To lye condemn'd to a perpetuall load And over-match'd with every gowtie Toad And thus be hide-bound in A slough Of proof An Adamatine Skin No Curase is more tough A home Spun Iron Shirt A Web of Maile still on would Gyants hurt How happy are these Frogs That skip about the Bogs Some pittying God ah ease me of my Arms And native Farmes That naked I may Swim Below now on the Brim Among the scallie swarms Searching the Bays and Bosoms of the Lake And with these nymble Crokers pleasure take Vext at his Shell thus the fond Tortoise spake But when he saw firce Eeles devoure the Frogs And mark'd their tender Skin Pierc'd with each Rush which circle in the Bogs And his lesse penetrable then hard Logs The Tortoise did begin To find His mind Contented with his Inne And thought the Gods now kind To grant him such a Fort Over whose Roof one drove a loaden Cart Better to bear his Castle on his back Though it should crack Then to be made a prey While he abroad did play To every Grig and Jack Then thus aloud his error he confest I live in Walls impregnable at rest While all my Friends with Tyrants are opprest MORALL Thus at home happy oft fond Youth complain And Peace and plenty with soft Beds disdain But when in Forraign War death seals his eys His Birth place he remembers ere he dies 54 THE FOUR AND FIFTIETH FABLE Of the Tortoise and Eagle BUt now again she cries ah must I creep Still as I were asleep All creatures else can swim or walk or run I in the dusty road lye like a Stone The Birds doe fly So high That oft they singe their Feathers in the Sun Most Princely Eagle bear me through the Skie That I may measure the bright Spangled Arch Where the great Planets march And I will give thee jems Such as doe Shine in Princes Diadems With a huge Pearl I in a Scollop found In the Hellespontick sound Thought worth nine hundred ninty thousand pound This said the Eagle lifts her and her house Up like a little Mouse Through the cold quarters of the Stars they goe And Magazines of Rain Hail Wind and Snow Such was their flight They might See the dark Earths contracted face below To cast forth sullen beams with brazen light Like a huge Moon and turning on her poles Dark Seas like Phaebes moles Casting a dimmer ray Then rowling East they view America Asia and Africk Europe next a rose No Map so perfect shews How the great Midland Sea betwixt them flows But here the Eagle his reward did aske Due for so great a task But when the Tortoise saw his threatning Beak And cruell Sears amaz'd he could not speak The Royall Bird Then stird With indignation thus did silence break Thou that didst boast as if thou hadst a hoard And didst with promis'd jewels mock a Prince Now for thy insolence I le strip thee from thy Shell Cheaper thou might'st have seen the Gates of Hell Then the high Stars who rais'd thee from thy hole To Seats above the Pole Shall now devide thy Body from thy Soul MORALL What to gain Treasure will not greedy Kings Sweet smels the Coyn draind from Merdurinous Springs But Promisers who Princes hopes defeat Oft pay sad forfeits with their Lives and State 55 THE FIVE AND FIFTIETH FABLE Of an Aegyptian King and his Apes REalms marld and water'd with the fertile Nile A King did rule who lov'd nor Care nor Toyl Nor with devasting War his neighbours land to spoyl Nor he in ostentation Riches spent Vexing poor Israelites Proud Pyramids to build Whose pointed spires still wound the firmament Darkning our Western Nights Whey they our rising Moon and Stars unguild Nor took he pleasure to Hunt Salvage Beasts But entertainment lov'd and Princely Feasts Pleas'd with his own or to here others witty jests When at full Boards a jolley Peer did start This question whether Apes might learn the art Of dancing and be taught to act a humane part The Novell fancy much the King did please When thus he said my Lord This project I le advance Since here are none wee l send beyond the Seas To Realms far off well stord With Masters that shall teach them how to dance Both Greece and Rome the art of Ocastrie Alwaies esteem'd where dancing Masters be Whose feet Historians are and tell a History Mars in a Net this
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