Selected quad for the lemma: lord_n
Text snippets containing the quad
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A26529
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Æsop at Epsom, or, A few select fables in verse by a cit.
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Cit.
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1698
(1698)
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Wing A736; ESTC R21482
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6,155
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36
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AESOP AT Epsom Or a few Select Fables In VERSE By a Cit. London Printed for and Sold by John Nut near Stationers-Hall 1698. To his Excellency Charles Montague Esq one of the Lord Justices for the Administration of publick Affairs during the Kings absence first Lord Commissioner of the Treasury Chancellor of the Exchequer and one of His Majesty's most Honourable Privy Council SIR THO' a Present of Fables to Your Excellency the inimitable Author of the COUNTRY MOUSE and CITY-MOUSE may at this time seem improper Yet a Present of Loyalty to the same Government which You have been so Studious and successful in the preservation of cannot but carry its Acceptance with it That Liberty which Your Excellency gave the World so sweet a tâ—st of in Your most incomparable Fable and which afterwards You was so instrumental in continuing to us is in part the Subject of these And as Aesop at Tunbridge by feign'd and surreptitious Fables seems to bewail the change of the late Gevernment so Aesop at Epsom with real and genuine râ—yoyceth at the Establishment of this Sir Your Excellency's great Example has such a prevailing influence as to make the meanest Subject solicitous for the Publick Good and to see that Revolution become the subject of Satyr which has giv'n such opportunities for Panegyrick and whose Royal Author has had such immortal Commendations from Your Excellency's the best of Pens could not but add very much to my Resentments in the following Papers But Sir to give no further interruption to a Gentleman whose very Leisure is employ'd for the publick Safety I shall not encroach upon Your time any further than to beg Your Acceptance of this poor Entertainment which shall make me add to my Endeavours of approving my self in a more substantial way Sir Your Excellency's most Obedient Servant AESOP AT Epsom FAB I. Of the Fox and the Stork A Subtil Fox well practis'd in design Invites a Stork that He with him will dine A match says Stork Sir Reynard it 's agreed And home He goes and much resolv'd to feed Nothing will serve but that He 's sure the Beast Will soon repent He 'd brought Him for a Guest His Stomach was so empty and so great Zounds He himself should finish all the treat Fox smiles and in his Cubs the Dinner bring Soop and Pottage a Banquet for a King Fall on my guest said Fox and down he pour's The liquid Feast which He himself devours Dear Stork He crys ' Slife Child why dost not Peck The Stork he Stretches and extends his neck But nothing can get up within His Bill Whilst Reynard licks it up and Eats his fill At length perceiving how he had been serv'd He homeward Stalks or He must else have Starv'd But Mindfull of the Fox his empty Treat Sends to Invite Him to a dish of Meat The Fox not thinking Storks had had the sense To mind affronts or take the least offence Took him at 's word and said Sir Stork content I 'll see what House you keep and Home wi'him went The Table Spread and every thing compleat That might put Fox in mind He was to eat Two servant Storks upon the Table plac'd A Narrow long-neck'd Glass which held the Feast Lampreys and Eels within it might be seen The Glass was so transparent and so clean When Stork Sans ceremony Sir begin You see your entertainment here within I 'll shew the way and in his Beak he thrust Whil'st Reynard try'd in vain and trying curs'd Lord said the Stork are you a Beast of thought And yet no Broth or Soop or Pottage brought I 'd e'en fetch some and fill the Vessel up You then although You could not eat might sup MORAL The Application soon is made By any that 's a Reader One in his turn the Fool has play'd And whose turn 's now consider The Tunbridge Aesop first has given The Town a Dish of Meat And faith to make the Talli'es even Epsom should also treat FAB II. Of the Lamb and the Wolf A Wolf as He look'd out for prey And went in search of food Perceiv'd a Lamb and Goat in 's way Come jogging on the Road. Mutton He lov'd but did not dare Fasten on that He Spy'd Whilst Hircus with his horns was there And thus to part them try'd Home from this beast for shame Sir Lamb It greives my very Soul To See You leave a Noble Dam And walk with Goat so foul A Goat fye on 't the very worst Of all the Brutal Race A Stinking Animal and curs'd The woods and fields disgrace Heark you said Lamb I plainly know Whom You Your tricks would put on And what You mean by gaping so Poor Wolf he wants some Mutton I thank you for th' Advice you lend And wonder not you shou'd Like me much better than my friend Since I am better Food MORAL So when the Wars broke out at first And France prepar'd for fighting Lord how her Mighty Monarch curs'd The Dutch and us uniting Per Dieu said he the British Race Of Heroes once the chief Joyn with a Land so cursed Base And ask of them relief But had his aim successful been And us from them remov'd We then the sad Effects had seen And Fables moral prov'd FAB III. Of the Sun and the North-wind BEtwixt the Sun and Wind arose A quarrel like to end in blows If both of 'm had not rather chose A fitting Mediator It seems that this contention grew From which was Strongest of the two And down their VVagers strait they threw Thus to decide the matter By chance a Traveller came by And both with one united cry On Him let us our forces try To finish the dispute He that the first a way could find To make him leave his Cloak behind Should win it 's done agreed said Wind Said Sun content I 'll do 't VVhen Boreas summon'd every blast And at Him all his fury cast But flinging round his Cloak he pass'd And forwarded his journey Sol smiles and gath'ring all his Rays Sure of the conquest and the Bays I 'll make You quit your Cloak he says Or else by God I 'll burn ye Straight Passinger began to sweary Enrag'd and troubled with the heat And in a most confounded Pett At last flung off the Garment Boreas said Sol See yonder Cloak The Wagers Won and Thou art broke And up in hast The Stakes He took And that was all the harm in 't MORAL Thus blustring Kings like Boreas often fail Whilst others like the Conqu'ring Sun prevail Numbers may fright and dismal fancies raise But what can Numbers in improper ways Whilst at Compeign Extended armies Shine And France her infant Princes fight and dine Whilst Boufflers treats the Ladies with a Song And Duke de Berry learns the Spanish Tongue A Prince at Cell who Seemingly appears Thoughtless of Arms since now releas'd from Wars Amid'st his Sports shall fit Expedients find To cheat the dangers by their Arms design'd And
one poor Hunting Match perhaps may break The Measures which their fam'd Encampments take FAB IV. Of the Trumpeter A Trumpeter in time of VVar VVas in the Battle taken And Dead almost with very fear Try'd thus to save his Bacon Dear Sirs if guiltless Actions save Or Innocence secures From you the grant of Life I crave Who ne'er endanger'd yours Nor Sword nor Musquet have I born Or any other Weapon worn Than what is in my hand This Trumpet never gave a wound Or utter'd any thing but empty sound And that too by command Off with the Dog and fetch the Rope Said Enemy and tye Him up A Villain never spare him Zounds That same Instrument is worse Than Sword and Gun and every Curse And we 've most cause to fear him Since from his blasts those wounds at first proceed By which so many Thousands of us bleed MORAL So crys an Author who has spent his spleen VVhat harm can silly Fables mean Or how can Faction takes its birth From a few Tales and unprovoking Mirth They may perhaps delight But rest assur'd they 'll never fight The Beasts I treat of cannot plot Or traffick in Sedition what of that VVhen if he rail'd like O t s like S fought Curs'd like a Man at Sam 's like M thought All join'd together ne'er was able To shew the malice of one single Fable FAB V. Of the Apple and the Horse-Turd AN Apple falling from a Tree Which near a River stood With Horse-Turd in his Company Was sailing down the Flood When Turd ambitious to discourse A thing so much above it VVould into Conversation force As down the River drove it Lord Madam what a pleasant Stream Is this in which we ride Sister How we two Apples swim The foul Sirrev'rence cry'd MORAL A Threadbare VVriter who per chance Has not one Farthing paid To carry on the VVar with France Towards the Royal Aid Crys Damn this curs'd confounded Peace It Forty Millions cost And we could not procure our Ease Till All our VVealth was lost FAB VI. Of the Covetous and the Envious Man TWO men to Jove their prayers made For some kind Earthly blessing One never satisfy'd with what he had Tho' rich beyond Expressing Th' other was envious nor car'd What mischief e're befell Him So that His Comrade was not Spar'd And what should kill Him kill him Jove Teaz'd with their Petitions sent His Son Apollo to 'em To try to give 'em both content And know what service He could do ' em Ask said Apollo friends what e're You want th'out further trouble And what is ask'd from eithers pray'r T' other Shall bave it double With that the parsimonious Cuff For Wealth did loudly call Which downward fell but ne'r enough For his desires could fall Still as he ask'd the Riches came And doubled on the other Tho' Still his prayer was the same Which Still enrich'd his Brother Next in his turn Sir Envy kneel'd And with a bale-ful Eye Dear Phoebus to my prayer yield And Hearken to my cry Now oh just now thou Pow'r divine This favour let me find Put out this single Eye of mine That his may both be blind FAB VII Of the Beaver and the Hunters A Beaver being close pursu'd By Hunters Horse and Hounds And neither safe within the Wood Nor in the open Grounds ' I know full well and step'd aside ' The reasons why I 'm chas'd he cry'd ' And much lament the Cause ' My Stones are what they want and I ' Must either part with them or die ' And glut the Beagles jaws With that though he was loath to part With things as precious as his heart Or with a quiet mind Surrender up the pride of all his kind Yet life was sweet and utt'ring forth some groans Off went his dear beloved Stones Which in the Hunters way The Melancholy beast did lay Call in the Hounds the fierce pursuers said We 've caught the game and have our markets made And taking up the Prize they went All homeward with content Whilst the Enervate beast return'd To graze in quiet on the plain And never after this misfortune mourn'd Or fled from Hunters or from Hounds again MORAL If a certain great Prince had but done as this Beast And instead of each Stone gotten rid of each Priest He had still bin a King whom his People had bless'd But since He had rather keep in with Ned Petre And likes Fryers and Monks for his company fitter Let him now keep his Stones for there 's none but has better FAB VIII The Lion and the Fox A Fox a Lyons Chaplain when The Beasts began to cry And gather round their Monarchs Den For Antient Liberty Said may it please my sov'raign Lord Your Subjects are your Slaves And if they dare to Speak a word Your Throat may be their Graves With that the Monarch Wisely smil'd At good Sir Crapes advice And said go fetch your youngest child My Stomach 's something nice Sir said the Fox You 'r in the wrong I must your pardon crave Parsons alone to Jove belong And no Controulers have MORAL So in late times the pulpits rung With passive non resistance And all the burthen of their song Was Duty and Assistance Life Wealth and every thing was due To Him who or'e us rul'd And VVhilst that Cant they would pursue VVe'd All of 's E'en been fool'd Had not their Churche's Lands been thought Belonging to the Throne And made 'em change their former note And what they said disown FAB IX Of Jupiter and the Monkey JOVE was desirous once to know VVhat Animal did bear The handsom'st off-spring or could show A little one most fair He summon'd every living thing Unto a certain place To come before him and to bring A Pattern of it's Race Forthwith each female creature came VVhich Air or Sea or Earth Could for it's proper Tenant claim And each produc'd a Sample of it's birth When as the Pow'rful God was just Deciding the dispute Up to the Throne a Monkey thrust A most deformed Brute And with her Young one in her hand VVhilst All the company smil'd ' Vouchsafe great Jove to understand ' Mine is the Finest child ' Please you my Liege to view this face ' How regular and sweet ' How well proportion'd every grace ' And how exact the features meet ' Surely my Lord can ne're refuse ' My Child and Me the Bays VVhen Jove for laughing could not choose And all of 'em went their ways MORAL So young Aesop from Bath or Old Aesop from Whitehall May amuse Town and Country with a fab'lous recital And in love with themselves think their own things the best Whilst the Clergy they laugh at escape the dull Jest And all the success of each Fable and story Is to lay down their own faults like the Monkey before ye FAB X. Of the Hares and the Frogs A Time was fix'd when Hares should meet And for dispatch of Business sit Without the least delays To remedy their present State Or else anticipate their Fate By proper means and ways Strait every Puss the Form forsook Which He or She for shelter took And hasten'd to the place Which by appointment was design'd To heal the mischiefs of their Kind Or make extinct their Race The SPEAKER chose and Members plac'd The House resolv'd it self at last Into a grand Committee But what a pother Lord they kept One sigh'd another trembling wept 'T would move us all to pity At length a Chief of high Renown And Ranger of some mighty Down First ask'd the House's leave And then stood up whilst all the rest With sorrows and with grief oppress'd Could nothing else but grieve ' Brethren said he a wretched Race ' Whom Men and Dogs and Eagles chase ' The Sport of the Creation ' In vain we 're thinking to redress 'Our Grievances or make 'em less ' While in this living Station ' Hounds will for ever be pursuing ' And Hunters meditating ruine ' Whilst we must still be flying ' We'd better Friends if I might give ' Advice this moment cease to live ' Than always be a dying Tho' Death is not a thing which suits With constitutions of such Brutes As Hares are of 't is certain Yet they resolv'd with much ado To bid the Groves and Hills adieu Tho' not ' thout tears at parting By chance there was a River near The place where these Assemblers were Debating how to die Wherefore to put off all delays They fix'd in that to end their days The sooner ' cause so nigh But Lord how Puss would backward shrink When almost at the very brink And sigh she was so near Then tell her Beads and wish some Saint Would help her from this damn'd restraint And ease her of her fear At last the leading Hares were come Prepar'd and ready for their Doom And at the Flood arriving A Frog or two into it skip'd Which made 'em look before they leap'd And think of longer living ' Hark ye said Puss who bore the sway ' Fair and softly wins the Day ' There 's no such need to die yet ' I 'll Home again and e'en submit 'To what my Destiny thinks fit ' And keep my Form in quiet ' Troth Sirs the fate of Frogs is worse ' Than ours which we at present curse ' And are so much afraid at ' For we who fear most things beside ' Are fear'd by them and that 's my Pride ' Since these are us dismay'd at ' Sirs it would be a pretty Jest ' If since our life is not the best ' It should be made our loathing 'Faith tho' I cannot be the Chief ' I have this comfort and relief ' I 'm better far than nothing MORAL Hence let the Male-contented mind Instructive Lessons draw Nor be uneasy when confin'd Within the bounds of Law What tho' his Purse is something drein'd For Peace he ne'er desir'd And has in part that Prince maintain'd Who might have all requir'd A Neighb'ring King 's best Subjects paid Thrice more than William's worst And without Mony Laws obey'd When His with Mony curs'd If therefore He like Hare should grieve Since small respect we show Him Like Hare in Fable let Him live Since He has Frogs below Him FINIS