Tis certain that you'll be the jest

One morning when the daw appear'd, Of every inseet, bird and beast,

The project was propos'd and heard: When you lie batter'd by your fall

And though the bird was much surprisid Just at the bottom of the wall.

To find friend Pug so ill advis'd, Be prudent then, improve the pow'rs

He rather chose that he shou'd try Which nature gives in place of ours.

At his own proper risk to fly, You'll find them readily conduce

Than hazard, in a case so nice, At once to plessure and to use.

To shock him by too free advice. But airy whims and crotchets lead

Quoth be, I'm certain that you'll find To certain loss, and ne'er succeed:

The project answer to your inind; As folks, though inly vex'd and teas'd,

Without suspicion, dread or care, Will oft seeai satisfy'd and pleas'd.”

At once commit you to the air ; The ape approv'd of every word,

You'll soar aluft, or, if you please, At this time utter'd by the bird:

Proceed straight forwards at your ease: But nothiog in opinion chang'd,

The whole depends on resolution, Thought only how to be reveng'd.

Which you possess from constitution ; It happen'd when the day was fair,

And if you follow as I lead, That Poll was set to take the air,

'Tis past a doubt you must succeed." Just where the monkey oft sat poring

So saying, from the turret's height About experiments in soaring:

The Jack-daw shot with downward flight, Dissembling his contempt and rage,

And on the edge of a canal, He stept up softly to the cage,

Some fifty paces from the wall, And with a sly malicious grin,

'Lighted obsequious to attend Accosted thus the bird within.

The monkey when he should descend: “ You say, I am not forin'd for fight; But he, altho' he had believ'd In this you certainly are right;

The flatterer and was deceiv'd, 'Tis very plain upon reflection,

Felt some misgivings at his heart But to yourself there's no objection,

In vent'ring on so new an art : Since flying is the very trade

But yet at last, 'tween hope and fear, For which the winged race is made;

Himself he trusted to the air ; And therefore for our mutual sport,

But far'd like bim whom puets mention, I'll make you fly, you can't be burt."

With Dedalus's old invention : With that he slyly slipt the string

Directly downwards on his head Which held the cage up by the ring.

He fell, and lay an hour for dead. In vain the parrot begg'd and pray'd,

The various creatures in the place, No word as minded that she said ;

Ilad ditt'rent thoughts upon the case, Down went the cage, and on the ground

From some bis fate compassion drew, Bruis'd and half-dead poor Poll was found, But those I must confess were few ; Pug who for some time had attended

The rest esteem'd him rightly serv'd, To that alone wi'ich now was ended,

And in the manner he deserv'd, Again had leisure to pursue

For playing tricks beyond bis sphere, The project he bad first in view.

Nor thought the punishment severe. Quoth be, “ A person if he's wise

They gather'd round him as he lay, Will only with bis friends advise,

And jeerd him when he limp'd away. They know his temper and his parts,

Pug, disappointed thus and hurt, And have his interest near their hearts,

And grown besides the public sport,
In matters which he should forbear,

Found all his different passions change
They 'll hold him back with prudent care, At once to fury and revenge :
But never from an envious spirit

The daw 'twas useless to pursue ;
Forbid him to display bois merit;

His helpless brood, as next in view, Or judging wrong, from spleen and hate With unrelenting paws he seiz'd, His talents slight or underrate:

One's neck he wrung, another squeez'd, I acted sure with small reflection

Till of the number four or five, In asking counsel and direction

No single bird was left alive. From a sly minion whom I know

Thus copinsellors, in all regards To be my rival and my foe:

Though different, meet with like rewards, Que who will constantly endeavour

The story shows the certain fate To burt me in our lady's favour,

Of every mortal soon or late, And watch and plot to keep me down,

Whose evil genius for his crimes
From obvious interests of her own :

Connects with any fop that rhymes.
But on the top of that old tow'r
An honest daw has made his bow'r;
A faithful friend whom one may trust,

THE BOY AND THE RAINBOW.
My debtor too for many a crust;
Which in the window oft I lay

Declare, ye sages, if ye find For him to come and take away:

'Mongst animals of ev'ry kind, From gratitude no doubt he'll give

Of each condition, sort, and size, Such counsel as I may receive;

From whales and elephants to flies, Well back'd with reasons strong and plain A creature that mistakes his plan, To push me forward or restraiu.".

And errs so constantly as man

Each kind pursues his proper good,

And left him to compute his gains,
And seeks tor pleasure, rest, and food,

With nought bui labour for his pains.
As rature points, and never errs
In what it chooses and prefers;
Man only blinders, though possest
Of talents far above the rest.

CELIA AND HER MIRROR. Descend to instances and try;

As there are various sorts of minds, An ox will scarce attempt to fly,

So friendships are of diff'rent kinds : Or leave his pasture in the wood,

Some, constant when the object's near, With fishes to explore the food.

Soon vanish if it disappear. Man only acts, of every creature,

Another sort, with equal fame, In opposition to his nature.

In absence will be still the same : The happiness of human kind,

Some folks a trifle will provoke, Consists in rectitude of mind,

Their weak attachment soon is broke; A will subdu'd to reason's sway,

Some great offences only move And passions practis'd to obey ;

To change in friendship or in love. An open and a gen'rous heart,

Affection, when it has its source
Refin'd from selfishness and art;

In things that shift and change of course,
Patience which mocks at fortune's pow'r, As these diminish and decay,
And wisdom never sad por sour:

Must likewise fade and melt away.
In these consist onr proper bliss;

But when 'tis of a nobler kind, Else Plato reasons much amiss :

Inspir'd by rectitude of mind, But foolish mortals still pursue

Whatever accident arrives, False happiness in place of true;

It lives, and death itself survives; Ambition serves us for a guide,

Those different kinds reduc'd to two, Or lust, or avarice, or pride;

False friendship may be call'd, and true. While reason no assent can gain,

In Celia's drawing-room of late And revelation warps in vain.

Some female friends were met to chat; Hence through our lives, in cvery stage,

Where after much discourse had past, From infancy itself to age,

A portrait grew the theme at last : A happiness we toil to find,

'Twas Celia's you must understand, Which still avoids us like the wind;

And by a celebrated hand. Ev'n when we think the prize our own,

Says one, “That picture sure must strike, At once 'tis vanish'd, lost, and gone.

In all respects it is so like; You'll ask me why I thus rehearse

Your very features, shape and air All Epictetus in my verse,

Express'd, believe me, to a bair: And if I fondly hope to please

The price I'm sure cou'd not be small,”– With dry reflections such as these,

“ Just fifty guineas frame and all."So trite, so hackney'd, and so stale ?

“ That mirror there is wond'rous five.”I'll take the hint and tell a tale.

“ I own the bauble cost me nine; One ev'ning as a simple suain

I'm fairly cheated you may swear, His Aick attended on the plain,

For never was a thing so dear.”— The shining bow he chanc'd to spy,

“ Dear!”- quoth the looking-glass-and spoke, Which warns us when a show'r is nigh;

“ Madam, it wou'd a saint provoke: With brightest rays it seem'd to glow,

Must that same gaudy thing be own'd Its distance eighty yards or so.

A pennyworth at fifty pound; This bumpkin had it seems been told

While I at nine am reckon'd dear, The story of the cup of gold,

'Tis what I never thought to hear. Which Fame reports is to be found

Let both our merits now be try'd, Just wbere the rainbow meets the ground; This fair assembly shall decide; He therefore felt a sudden itch

And I will prove it to your face, To seize the gcblet and be rich;

That you are partial in the case. Hoping, (yet hopes are oft but vain):

I give a likeness far more true No more to toil through wind and rain,

Than any artist ever drew : But sit indulging by the fire,

And what is vastly more, express 'Midst ease and plenty, like a 'squire:

Your whole variei y of dress: He mark'd the very spot of land

From morn to noun, from noon to night, On which the rainbow seem'd to stand,

I watcb each change and paint it right; And stepping forwards at his leisure

Besides I'm mistress of the art, Expected to have found the treasure.

Which conquers and secures a heart. But as be mov'd, the colour'd ray

I teach you how to use those arms, Still chang'd its place and slipt away,

l hat vary and assist your charms, As seeming his approach to shun;

Aud in the triumphs of the fair, From walking he began to run,

Claim half the merit for my share : But all in vain, it still withdrew

So when the truth is fairly told, As nimb y as he cou'd pursue ;

I'm worth at least my weight in gold; At last through many a bog and lake,

But that vain thing of which you speak Rough craggy road and thorny brake,

Becomes quite useless in a week. It led the easy fool, till night

For, though it had no other vice, Approach'd, ihen vanish'd in his sight,

'Tis out of fashion in a trice :

a

:

a

The cap is chang'd, the cloke, the gown ;

A tale an ancient bard has told It must no longer stay in town;

Of two poor ishermen of old, But goes in course to hide a wall

Their names were (lest I should forget With others in your country-hall."

And put the reader in a pel, The mirror thus :—the nymph reply'd,

Lest critics too shou'd make a pother) " Your merit cannot be deny’d:

The one Asphelio, Gripus t'other. s'he portrait too, I must confess,

The men were very pour, their trade In some respects has vastly less.

Cou'd scarce afford them daily bread: But you yourself will treely grant

Though ply'd with industry and care I'bat it has virtues which you want.

Through the whole season, foul and fair, 'Tis certain that you can express

Upon a rock their cottage stood, My shape, my features, and my dress,

On all sides bounded by the tioud : Not just as well, but better too

It was a miserable seat, Than Kneller once or Ramsay now.

Like cold and hunger's worst retreat: But that same image in your heart

And yet it serv'd them both for lite, Which thus excels the painter's art,

As neither cou'd maiutain a wite; The shortest absence can deface,

Two walls were rock, and two were sand, And put a monkey's in its place:

Ramm’d up with stakes and made to standa That other which the canvas bears,

A roof hung threat’ning o'er their heads Unchang'd and constant, lasts for years,

Of boards half-rotten, thatch'd with reeds. Wou'd Eeep its lustre and its bloom

And as no thief e'er touch'd their store, 1 hough it were here and I at Rome.

A hurdle serv'd them for a door.
When age and sickness shall invade

Their beds were leaves ; against the wall
Thuse youthful charms and make them fade, A sail hung drying, yard and all.
You'll soon perceive it, and reveal

On one side lay an old patch'd uherry
What partial triendship shou'd conceal:

Like Charon’s on the Stygian ferry : You'll tell me, in your usual way,

On t'other, baskets and a net, Of furrow'd cheeks and locks grown gray ;

With sea-weed foul and always wet, Your geo'rous rival, not so cold,

These sorry instruments of trade Will ne'er suggest that I am uld;

Were all the furniture they had: Nor mark when time and slow disease

For they had neither spit nor pot, Hare stol'n the graces wont to please;

Unless my author has forgot. But keep my inzage to be seen

Once, some few hours ere break of day, In the full blossom of sixteen :

As in their hut our fishers lay, Bestuwing freely all the praise

The one awak'd and wak'd his neighbour, I merited in better days.

That both might ply their daily labour; You will (when I am turn'd to dust,

For cold and hunger are confest For beautjes die, as all things must,

No triends to indolence or rest, And you remember but by seeing)

“Friend,” quoth the drowsy swain, and swore, Furget that e'er I had a being :

“What you have done bas hurt me more But in that picture I shall live,

Than all your service can repay diy charms shall death itself survive,

For years to come by night and day; Aud figurd by the pencil there

You've broke the thought on't makes me madTell that your mistress once was fair.

The finest dream that e'er I had.” (prove Weigh each advantage and defect,

Quoth Gripus: “ Friend your speech wou'd The portrait merits njost respect:

You mad indeed, or else in love; Your qualities would recommend

For dreams shou'd weigh but light with those A servant rather than a friend;

Who feel the want of food and clothes: But service sure, in every case,

I guess, though simple and untaught,
To friendship yields the higher place."

You dream'd about a lucky draught,
Or money found by chance: they say,
That hungry foxes dream of prey."

“You're wond'ruus sbrewd, upon my troth, THE FISHERMEN.

Asphelio cry'd, '. and right in boch

My dream had gold in't, as you said,
IMITATED FROM THEOCRITUS.

And fishing too, our constant trade,
By all the sages 'tis confest

And since your guess has hit so near, That hope when moderate is best:

In short the whole on't you sball hear. But when indulg'd beyond due measure,

“ Upon the shore I seem'd to stand, It yields a vain deceitful pleasure,

My rod and tackle in my hand ; Which cheats the simple, and betrays

The baited hook full oft I threw, To mischief in a thousand ways:

But still in vain, I nothing drew: Just hope assists in all our toils,

A fish at last appear'd tu bite, The wheels of industry it oils;

The cork div'd quickly out of sight, In great attempts the bosom fires,

And soon the dipping rod I found And zeal and cunstancy inspires.

With something weighty bent half round: False hope, like a deceitful dream,

Quoth I, • Good luck has come at last, Rests on some visionary scheme,

l've surely made a happy cast: And keeps us idle to our loss,

This fish, when in the market sold, Enchanted with our hands across,

In place of brass will sell for gold;'

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To bring it safe within my reach
I drew it safely to the beach,
But long ere it had come so near,

CUPID AND THE SHEPHERD,
The water gleam'd with something clear;
Each passing billow caught the blaze,

Who sets his heart on things below, And glitt'ring stone with golden rays.

But little happiness shall know; Of hope and expectation full

For every objeet he pursues Impatient, yet afraid to pull,

Will vex, deceive him, and abuse: To shore I slowly brought my prize,

While he whose hopes and wishes rise A golden fish of largest size:

To endless bliss above the skies, Twas metal all from head to tail,

A true felicity shall gain, Quite stiff and glittring ev'ry scale.

With freedom from both care and pain. Thought I, “My fortune now is made ;

He seeks what yields him peace and rest, "Tis time to quit the fishing trade,

Both when in prospect and possest. And choose some other, where the gains

A swain, whose Rock bad gone astray, Are sure, and come for half the pains.

Was wand'ring far out of the way Like creatures of amphibious nature

Through deseats wild, and chanc'd to see One hour on land and three in water;

A stripling leaning on a tree. We live 'midst danger, toil and care,

In all things like the human-kind, Yet never have a groat to spire:

But that apon his back behind While others, not expos'd to harm,

Two wings were from his shoulders spread Grow rich, though always ary and warm; Of gold and azure ting'd with red; This treasure will softice, and more,

Their colour like the ev'ning sky: To place me handso nely on shore,

A golden quiver grac'd his thigh : In some snug manor; non a swain,

His bow unbended in his hand My steers shall turn the furrow'd plain,

He held, and wrote with on the sand; While on a mountain's grassy side

As one whom anxious cares pursue, My flocks are past'ring far and wide:

Ir musing oft is wont to co. Beside all this, I'll have a spat

He started still with sudden fear, Convenient, elegant and neat,

As if some danger had been near, A house not over-great nor small,

And turnid on every side to view Three rooms, a kitchen, and a hall.

A fight of birds that round him flew, The offices contriv'd with care

Whose presence seem'd to make him sad, And fitted to complete a square:

For all sere ominous and bad ; A garden well laid out; a wife,

The hark was there, the type of spite, To double all the joys of life;

The jealous owl that shuns the light, With children prattling at my knees,

The raven, whose prophetic bill Such trifies as are sure to please.'

Denounces woe and mischief still ; Those gay designs, and twenty more,

The vulture hungry to devour, I in my dream was running o'er,

Though gorg'd and glutted ev'ry hour; While you, as if you ow'd me spite.

With these confus'd an ugly crew * Broke in and put them all to fight,

Of harpies, hats, and dragous flew, Blew the whole vision into air,

With talons arm’d, and teeth, and stings, And left me waking in despair.

The air was darken'd with their wings. Of late we have been poorly fed,

The swain, though frighten'd, yet drew near, Last night went supperless to bed,

Compassion rose in place of fear ; Yet, if I had it in my pow'r

He to the winged youth begau,My dream to lengthen for an hour,

Say, are you mortal and of man, The pleasure mounts to such a sum,

Or something of celestial birth, I'd fast for fifty yet to come.

Frim Heaven descended to the Earth ?" Therefore to bid me rise is vain

“I am not of terestrial kind," I'll wink and try to dream again.”

Quoth Cupid, “ nor to Earth contin'd: " If this,' quoth Gripus, “is the way

leav'n is my true and proper sphere, You choose, I've nothing more to say ;

My rest and happiness are there: "Tis plain tl at dreams of wealth will serve Through all the boundless realms of light A person who resolves to starve;

The phonix waits upun my fight, But sure, to npg a fancy'd case,

With other birds whose names are known That never did nor can take place,

In that delightful place alone. And for the pleasures it can give

But when to Earth my course I bend, Neglect the trade by which we live,

At once they leave me and ascend; Is madness in its greatest height,

And for companions, in their stead, Or I mistake the matter quite;

Those winged monsters there succeed, Leave such vain fancies to the great,

Who hov'ring round me night and day, For folly suits a large estate:

Expect and claim me as their prey." The rich may safely deal in dreams,

“Sir," qaoth the shepherd, “ if you'll try, Romantic hopes and airy schemes.

Your arrows soon will make them fly; But you and I, upon my word,

Or if they brave them and resist, Such pastime cannot well afford;

My sling is ready to assist.” And therefore if you would be wise,

“ Incapable of wounds and pain," Take my advice, for once, and rise."

Reply'd the winged youth again,

TO THE POETS.

of These foes our weapons will defy;

“ As black as ink!- if this be true, Immortal made, they never die;

To me 'tis wonderful and new,” But live to haunt me every where,

I he sov’reign of the birds reply'd; While I remain within their sphere."

“ but soon the truth on't shall be try'd. “Sir,” quoth the swain, “ might I advise, Sir, show your limbs, and for my sake, You straight should get above the skies :

Confute at once this foul mistake, It seems indeed your only way,

For l'Il maintain, and I am right, For nothing here is worth your stay:

That, like your feathers, they are white.” Beside, when foes like these molest,

“Sir," quoth the swan, “it wou'd be vain You'll find but little peace or rest.”

For me a falsehood to maintain;
My legs are black, and proof will show
Beyond dispute that they are so:

Putif I had not got a prize
THE SWAN AND OTHER BIRDS.

Which glitters much in some folks eyes,

Not half the birds had ever known
Each candidate for public fame

What truth now forces me to owir."
Engages in a desp'rate game:
His labour he will find but lost,
Or less than half repaid at most:
To prove this point I shall not choose

THE LOVER AND HIS FRIEND
The arguments which Stvics use ;
That human life is but a dream,
And few things in it what they seem :
That praise is vain and little worth,

'Tis not the point in works of art An empty bauble, and so forth.

With care to furnish every part, I'll offer one, but of a kind

That each, to high perfection rais'd, Nót half so subtil and refin’d;

May draw attention and be prais'd,
Which, when the rest are out of sight,

An object by itself respected,
May sometimes chance to have its weight, Though all the others were neglected:
The man who sets his merits high

Not masters only this can do,
To glitter in the public eye,

But many a vulgar artist too : Shou'd have defects but very small,

We know distinguish'd merit most Or strictly speaking, none at all:

When in the whole the parts are lost, For that success which spreads his fame,

When nothing rises up to shine, Prurokes each envious tongue to blame,

Or draw us from the chief design. And makes his faults and failings known

When one united full effect Where'er his better parts are shown.

Is felt before we can reflect, Upon a time, as poets sing,

And mark the causes that conspire The birds all waited on their king,

To charm, and force us to admire, His hymeneal rites to grace;

This is indeed a master's part, A fow'ry meadow was the place;

The very summit of his art, They all were frolicsome and gay

And therefore when ye shall rehearse Amidst the pleasures of the day,

'To friends for trial of your verse, And ere the festival was clos'd,

Mark their behaviour and their way, A match at singing was propos'd;

As much, at least, as what they say ; The queen herself a wreath prepar'd,

If they seem pleas'd, and yet are mute, To be the conqueror's reward ;

The poem's good beyond dispute; Wüh store of pinks and daisies in it,

But when they babble all the while, And many a songster try'd to win it,'

Now praise the sense, and now the style, But all the judges soon confest

'Tis plain that something must be wroue, The swan superior to the rest,

This too weak or that too strong. He got the garland from the bride,

The art is wanting which conveys With honour and applause beside :

Impressions in mysterious ways, A tattling goose, with envy stung,

And makes us from a whole receive Although herself she neler had sung,

What no divided parts can give: Took this occasion to reveal

Fine writing, therefore, seems of course What swans seem studious to conceal,

Less fit to please at first than worse. And, skill'd in satire's artful ways,

A language fitted to the sense Invective introduc'd with praise.

Will hardly pass for eloquence. “ The swan,” quoth she, “ upon my word, One feels its force, before he sees Deserves applause from ev'ry bird :

The charm which gives it pow'r to please, By proof his charming voice you know,

And ere instructed to admire, His feathers soft and white as snow;

Will read and read and never tire. And if you saw him when he swiins

But when the style is of a kind Majestic on the silver streams,

Which soårs and leaves the sense behind, He'd seem complete in all respects:

| 'Tis something by itself, and draws But nothing is without defects;

From vulgar judges dull applause; For that is true, which few wou'd think,

They'll yawn, and tell you as you read, His legs and feet are black as ink

“ Those lines are mighty fine indeed;"