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The Wolf, by force of truth repell'd, With shame and anger foam'd and swell'd; 'It was your father, then,' cries he,

And that you know's the same to me.' He said, and seiz'd the helpless victim, And to the bones the tyrant pick'd him.

FABLE XXXVIII.

THE SCHOLAR AND HIS CAT.

By Nathaniel Cotton, M.D.

LABOUR entitles man to eat,

The idle have no claim to meat.

This rule must ev'ry station fit,
Because 'tis drawn from sacred writ.
And, yet, to feed on such condition,

Almost amounts to prohibition.

Rome's priesthood would be doom'd, I fear,

To eat soup-maigre all the year.
And would not Oxford's cloister'd son
By this hard statute be undone ?

In truth, your poet, were he fed
No oft'ner than he earns his bread,
The vengeance of this law would feel,

And often go without a meal.

It seem'd a Scholar and his Cat
Together join'd in social chat.
When thus, the letter'd youth began:

'Of what vast consequence is man!
• Lords of this nether globe we shine,
'Our tenure's held by right divine.
'Here independence waves its plea,
́All creatures bow the vassal knee.
'Nor earth alone can bound our reign,
'Our's is the empire of the main.

True-man's a sovereign-prince-but say,

'What art sustains the monarch's sway?

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Say from what source we fetch supplies? "Tis here the grand inquiry lies,

Strength is not man's for strength must suit 'Best with the structure of a brute.

Nor craft, nor cunning can suffice, A fox might then dispute the prize. 'To God-like Reason 'tis we owe

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Our ball and sceptre here below.' Now your associate next explains To whom precedence appertains: ' And sure 'tis easy to divine 'The leaders of this royal line. 'Note that all tradesmen I attest 'But petty princes at the best. 'Superior excellence you'll find In those who cultivate the mind. 'Hence heads of colleges, you'll own, 'Transcend th' assessors of a throne.

'Say, Evans, have you any doubt? You can't offend by speaking out.' With visage placid and sedate,

Puss thus address'd her learned mate:

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We're told that none in Nature's plan Disputes pre-eminence with man. But this is still a dubious case To me, and all our purring race. We grant, indeed, to partial eyes, Men may appear supremely wise. 'But our sagacious rabbies hold, That all which glitters is not gold. Pray, if your haughty claims be true, Why are our manners ap'd by you 'Whene'er you think, all Cats agree,

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'You shut your optics just as we.

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'Pray, why like Cats so wrapt in thought, 'If you by Cats were never taught?

'But, know, our tabby schools maintain

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Worth is not centr'd in the brain.

'Not that our sages thought despise

'No-but in action virtue lies.

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'We find it by experienced fact,

'That thought must ripen into act;

'Or Cat no real fame acquires,

'But virtue in the bud expires. 'This point your orchard can decide'Observe its gay autumnal pride. 'For trees are held in high repute, 'Not for their blossoms, but their fruit.

"If so, then Millar's page decrees

'Mere scholars to be barren trees.

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But, if these various reasons fail, 'Let my example once prevail.

• When to your chamber you repair, 'Your property employs my care. 'And, while you sink in sweet repose, My faithful eyelids never close.

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"When hunger prompts the mouse to steal, 'Then I display my honest zeal;

'True to my charge, these talons seize 'The wretch, who dares purloin your cheese. 'Or, should the thief assault your bread, 'I strike the audacious felon dead.

'Nor say I spring at smaller gameMy prowess slaughter'd rats proclaim. When in your service we engage, We brave the pilfering villain's rage; 'Ne'er take advantage of the night To meditate inglorious flight; But stand resolv'd, when foes defy, 'To conquer, or to bravely die.'

Hence, Bookworm, learn our duty here

Is active life in every sphere.

Know too, there's scarce a brute but can
Instruct vain supercilious man.

FABLE XXXIX.

THE BEAU AND THE VIPER.

By Dr. Cotton.

ALL wise philosophers maintain
Nothing created is in vain.

Yet some, with supercilious brow,
Deny the truth asserted now.
What if I shew that only man,
Appears defective in the plan!
Say will the sceptic lay aside

His sneers, his arrogance, and pride?
A Beau, imported fresh from France,
Whose study was to dress and dance;
Who had betimes, in Gallia's school,
Grafted the Coxcomb on the fool;
Approach'd a wood one summer's day,
To screen him from the scorching ray.
And, as he travers'd thro' the grove,
Scheming of gallantry and love,
A Viper's spiry folds were seen,
Sparkling with azure, gold and green;
The Beau indignant, weak, and proud,
With transport thus exclaim'd aloud :
'Avaunt, detested fiend of night!
Thou torture to the human sight!

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