When thus the Dog: At bed and board, 'I share the plenty of my lord; 'From ev'ry guest I claim a fee, "Who court my lord by bribing me, ' In mirth I revel all the day, 'And many a game at romps I play; 'I fetch and carry, leap o'er sticks, 'With twenty such diverting tricks.' ''Tis pretty, coz,' the Wolf replied, And on his neck the collar spied: He starts, and without more ado, He bids the abject wretch adieu : Enjoy your dainties, friend, to me! 'The noblest feast is liberty, The famish'd Wolf upon these desert plains, 'Is happier than a fawning cur in chains.' Thus bravely spoke the nurse of ancient Rome, Thus the starv'd Swiss, and hungry Grisons roam On barren hills, clad with eternal snow, And look with scorn on the prim slaves below. Nor cold, nor want, nor death, could shake their steady mind. No saucy Druid then durst cry aloud, And with his slavish cant debauch the crowd: Her subjects then just liberties maintain'd, And in her people's hearts the happy monarch reign'd. FABLE VI. THE TRUMPETER. By Somerville. A Party of Hussars of late For prey and plunder scour'd the plains, In doleful plight th' unhappy Bard These hands, of slaughter innocent, To you or yours no hurt I meant, 'O take a poor Musician's word.' But the stern foe, with generous rage, Scoundrel!' reply'd, thou first shalt die, • Who urging others to engage, From fame and danger basely fly. The brave by law of arms we spare, To stop the breath that blew the fire.' FABLE VII. THE BROTHER AND SISTER AND THE LOOKING-GLASS. By Somerville. TOM CAREFUL had a Son and heir, She bore, alas! whate'er she could, But 'twas too much for flesh and blood; } All females do not have the grace And at her father's feet she lies; Sighs, sobs, and groans, calls to her aid, The cause th' indulgent father heard, Each day, my children, thus employ 'The faithful Mirror; you, my boy, 'Remember that no vice disgrace 'The gift of Heaven, that beauteous face: And you, my girl, take special care 'Your want of beauty to repair } FABLE VIII. THE TWO BEAVERS. By Stephen Duck. "TWERE well, my friend, for human kind, A Beaver, well advanc'd in age, This Beaver, on a certain day, The blust'ring winds with snow and rain; |