A book his curious eye detains,
Where, with exacteft care and pains,
Were every beaft and bird pourtray'd,
That e'er the fearch of man fürvey'd ;
Their natures and their powers were writ
With all the pride of human wit :
The page he with attention fpread,
And thus remark'd on what he read :
"Man with ftrong reafon is endow'd;
A beaft scarce inftinct is allow'd
But, let this author's worth be try'd,
'Tis plain that neither was his guide.
Can he difcern the different natures,
And weigh the power of other creatures,
Who by the partial work hath fhewn
He knows fo little of his own?
How falfely is the Spaniel drawn!
Did man from him firft learn to fawn?
A Dog proficient in the trade!
He the chief flatterer Nature made!
Go, Man! the ways of courts difcern,
You'll find a Spaniel ftill might learn.
How can the Fox's theft and plunder
Provoke his cenfure or his wonder?
From Courtiers' tricks and Lawyers' arts,
The Fox might well improve his parts.
The Lion, Wolf, and Tiger's brood,
He curfes, for their thirft of blood.
But is not Man to Man a prey?
Beafts kill for hunger, Men for pay."
The Bookfeller, who heard him fpeak,
And faw him turn a page of Greek,
Thought, what a genius have I found!
Then thus addrefs'd with bow profound:
"Learn'd Sir, if you 'd employ your pen
Against the fenfeless fons of men,
Or write the history of Siam;
No man is better pay than I am.
Or, fince you're learn'd in Greek, let's fee
Something against the Trinity."
When wrinkling with a fneer his trunk,
Friend, quoth the Elephant, you 're drunk :
E'en keep your money, and be wife;
Leave man on man to criticife:
For that you ne'er can want a pen
Among the fenfeless fons of men.
They unprovok'd will court the fray;
Envy's a fharper fpur than pay.
No author ever fpar'd a brother;
Wits are gamecocks to one another."
THE PEACOCK, THE TURKEY, AND THE GOOSE.
N beauty faults confpicuous grow;
The fmalleft ipeck-is feen on fnow.
As near a barn, by hunger led,
A Peacock with the poultry fed,
All view'd him with an envious eye,
And mock'd his gaudy pageantry.
He, confcious of fuperior merit,
Contemns their bafe reviling fpirit;
His ftate and dignity assumes,
And to the fun difplays his plumes,
Which, like the Heavens' o'er-arching fkies,
Are fpangled with a thousand eyes.
The circling rays, and varied light,
At once confound their dazzled fight;
On every tongue detraction burns,
And malice prompts their spleen by turns.
"Mark with what infolence and pride
The creature takes his haughty ftride,
The Turkey cries. Can fpleen contain ?
Sure never bird was half fo vain!
But, were intrinfic merit feen,
We Turkeys have the whiter fkin."
From tongue to tongue they caught abuse ;
And next was heard the hifling Goose:
"What hideous legs! what filthy claws!
I fcorn to cenfure little flaws.
Then what a horrid fqualling throat!
Ev'n owls are frighted at the note."
"True. Those are faults, the Peacock cries;
My fcream, my fhanks, you may despise;
But fuch blind critics rail in vain.
What! overlook my radiant train!
Know, did my legs (your fcorn and sport)
The Turkey or the Goose support,
And did ye fcream with harfher found,
Those faults in you had ne'er been found :
To all apparent beauties blind,
Each blemish ftrikes an envious mind.
Thus in affemblies have I feen
A nymph of brightest charms and mien
in each ugly face,
And buzzing scandal fills the place.
CUPID, HYMEN, AND PLUTUS.
S Cupid in Cythera's grove
Employ'd the leffer powers of Love,
Some shape the bow, or fit the ftring,
Some give the taper shaft its wing,
Or turn the polish'd quiver's mould,
Or head the darts with temper'd gold.
Amidst their toil and various care,
Thus Hymen, with affuining air,
Addrefs'd the God: "Thou purblind chit,
Of aukward and ill-judging wit,
If matches are not better made,
At once I must forfwear my trade.
You send me such ill-coupled folks,
That 'tis a fhame to fell them yokes.
They fquabble for a pin, a feather,
And wonder how they came together.
The husband's fullen, dogged, fhy,
The wife grows flippant in reply:
He loves command and due restriction;
And fhe as well likes contradiction:
VOL. II.
She never flavishly fubmits;
She 'll have her will, or have her fits.
He this way tugs, the th' other draws;
The man grows jealous, and with caufe.
Nothing can fave him but divorce;
And here the wife complies of course."
"When, fays the boy, had I to do
With either your affairs or you?
I never idly fpend my darts;
You trade in mercenary hearts.
For fettlements the lawyer's fee'd;
Is my hand witnefs to the deed?
If they like cat and dog agree,
Go rail at Plutus, not at me."
Plutus appear'd, and faid, ""Tis trúc,
In marriage, gold is all their view;
They feek not beauty, wit, or fenfe,
And love is feldom the pretence.
All offer incenfe at my fhrine,
And I alone the bargain fign.
How can Belinda blame her fate?
She only afk'd a great estate.
Doris was rich enough, 'tis true;
Her lord muft give her title too :
And every man, or rich or poor,
A fortune afks, and afks no more."
Avarice, whatever shape it bears,
Muft ftill be coupled with its cares.
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