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'To rocks and woods thy tale belongs, 'Fit audience for thy stupid songs! 'Away! no more my palace dun, 'Or Dick, or Tom, shall fetch the gun.' He ceas'd-The sable bird returns, (With rising scorn his bosom burns) 'Thou little lordling, void of sense,

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'Dar'st thou, imperious, warn me hence?

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Know, parasite, thy threats are nought, Nor boast thy cage too dearly bought : 'Above the frigid rules of art,

''Tis nature's dictates I impart;

Nor ever prostitute my lays,

'But grateful sing my Maker's praise; 'Whilst echoing o'er the hills and plains, 'I cheer the nymphs and lab'ring swains, 'Whether the rising notes I swell, 'Or lightly load the passing gale; With bolder music fill the grove, 'Or gently call my mate to love; Whether the joys of summer sing, Or chaunt the beauties of the spring; The varied notes still new appear, ' And sweet transition charms the ear Whilst thou, puff'd up with self-conceit, 'And idle thought of being great, Nor freedom can'st thyself allow, 'Nor give to others what is due ;

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'But, pedant-like, in pride, elate,

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(With notions, as thy prison, strait,)

'Think'st thou alone canst urge the strain;
'Thy boasted learning, then, how vain!
• Attend this truth, and know, for once,
"That learning ne'er unmade the dunce.'

FABLE LXXV.

THE OLD MAN, HIS CHILDREN, AND THE BUNDle of -STICKS.

A GOOD Old Man, who long had lain
Afflicted with disease and pain,
With difficulty drew his breath,
And felt the sure approach of death.
His practice good, his faith was sound,
He built his hope on Scripture ground.
And knowing life hangs on a breath,
He always liv'd prepared for death.
He trusted God, nor fear'd to die,
On Christ's atonement did relie,-
May it be thus with you and I!
Nor let us hope to die content,
Unless our life be wisely spent.

He call'd his Children round his bed,
And with a feeble voice he said:

'I well perceive, my children dear,
"That my appointed time draws near;

'I suffer much, but kiss the rod,
And bow me to the will of God.
'Yet, ere from you I'm quite remov'd,
From you whom always I have lov'd;
'I wish to give you all

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my

blessing,

⚫ And leave you with a useful lesson. That, when I've left this world of care, 'Each may his testimony bear,

'How much my latest thoughts inclin'd

To prove me tender, good, and kind! 'Observe that Faggot on the ground, 'With twisted hazel firmly bound:'

The Children turn'd their eyes that way, And view'd the Faggot as it lay; But wonder'd what their Father meant, Who thus expounded his intent:

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I wish that all of you would take it, 6 And try if any one can break it.'

Obedient to the good Old Man,
They all to try their strength began ;
And, when their labour vain they found,
They threw the Faggot on the ground.
Again the good Old Man proceeded

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To give th' instruction which they needed : Untwist,' says he 'the hazel bind,

And let the Faggot be disjoin'd.'

Then, stick by stick, and twig by twig,
The little children and the big,

According as their Father spoke,

Each sprig and spray they quickly broke :

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There, Father!' all began to cry, 'I've broken mine, and I,-and I.'

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Then said the Sire, 'Twas my intent 'My family to represent ;

'While you are join'd in friendship's thong, My dearest children, you'll be strong; 'But, if, by quarrel and dispute, 'You undermine affection's root, 'And, thus, the strength'ning cord divide, 'Then will my children ill betide. 'E'en beasts of prey in bands unite, 'And kindly for each other fight; And shall not Christian children be 'Join'd in sweet links of amity? 'If separate, you'll each be weak,

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Each, like a single stick, will break;

'But, if you're firm, and true, and hearty,
'The world and all its spite can't part ye.'
The Father, having clos'd his lesson,
Proceeded to pronounce his blessing;
Embrac'd them all, then pray'd and sigh'd,
Look'd up, then drop'd his head and died.
And, thus, my countrymen, should you,
And I, and all, be firm and true;

If Christian faith and love combine us,
And sweet affection's cord intwine us;
We need encourage no dejection,
Secure in the Divine Protection:
In prosperous days we'll bless our God,
And, when he smites, we'll kiss the rod.

FABLE LXXVI.

THE FLY AND THE TROUT.

As near yon stream, the other day,
Sooth'd by the murm'ring current's play,
I thoughtless stroll'd along,
Behold! of largest growth, a Fly
Adown the stream came glist'ning by,
The smaller flies among.

In sportive air it spread the sail,
And o'er the rest, the flying gale
It caught with seeming pride;
Swiftly it skims the crystal waves,
Now in the purling eddy laves,
Now smoother seems to glide.

'What joy,' (it said, or seem'd to say)
Thus on the sparkling stream to play,
'And quit the fields of air!

How dull, because on wings they rise, 'Is yonder crowd of vulgar flies, 'To float for ever there!

• Still let the timid sordid crew

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The same old beaten track pursue,

Nor tempt one new delight:

'I dare to live, to live I know,

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M

And grasp at ev'ry joy below i at ev'ry joy below i, sezagong al

No fancied ills affright.

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