"What virgin had not done as I did? My modeft hand, by nature guided, "Debarr'd at once from human eyes "The feat where female honour lies; "And, though thrice dipt from top to toe, "I ftill fecur'd the poft below, And guarded it with grasp so fast Weigh well the projects of mankind Some part ftill kept above the tide ? Some men (when drench'd beneath the wave) High o'er their heads their fingers save : Those hands by mean extortion thrive, Or in the pocket lightly dive : C 3 He He hangs on flattery with delight, THE By the DEATH of the DUKE REGENT OF FRANCE, WOW vain are mortal man's endeavours? H° (Said, at dame Elliot's*, mafter Travers) Good Orleans dead ! in truth 'tis hard: Oh, may all statesmen die prepar'd ! - — I with the King were fafely landed. There's Meroweis mark! strange work! The Pope - An India merchant by, Cut fhort the fpeech with this reply: "All at a ftand? You fee great changes? "Ah, Sir! you never faw the Ganges. "There dwell the nations of Quidnunki's (So Monomotapa calls monkies): A coffee-houfe near St. James's. 14 On 20 "On either bank, from bough to bough, "They meet and chat (as we may now). "Whifpers go round, they grin, they fhrug, "They bow, they fnarl, they fcratch, they hug; "And, just as chance or whim provoke them, "They either bite their friends, or stroke them. "There have I feen fome active prig, "To fhew his parts, beftride a twig: "Lord! how the chattering tribe admire, "Not that he 's wifer, but he 's higher : "All long to try the venturous thing (For power is but to have one's swing); "From fide to fide he fprings, he spurns, "And bangs his foes and friends by turns. "Thus, as in giddy freaks he bounces, "Crack goes the twig, and in he flounces ! "Down the swift ftream the wretch is borne; "Never, ah never, to return! 66 "Zounds! what a fall had our dear brother; "Morbleu! cries one; and Damme! t'other. "The nations give a general fcreech; "None cocks his tail, none claws his breech; "A while, all eyes, intent and fteddy, 25 30 35 40 45 FABLES. FABLE S. IN TWO PARTS. "Shall not my Fables cenfure vice, "'Tis his own confcience holds the glass. "Thus void of all offence I write : "Who claims the Fable, knows his right." PROL. TO SHEP. WEEK. INTRODUCTION TO THE FABLES. PART THE FIRST. THE SHEPHERD AND THE PHILOSOPHER. REMOTE from cities liv'd a Swain, Unvex'd with all the cares of gain; His head was filver'd o'er with age, 2 In |