But, while he tun'd his idle song,
Borne by the crystal stream along,
A Trout descried the prize;

1

And, upward darting, swift as thought, The vain, the boasting insect caught : 745 The boasting insect dies.

I mark'd his fate, I smote my breast; Deep be the lesson there imprest, od te Which thus my genius gave:

The wretch who quits the path assign'd, To taste forbidden joy, shall find s New ways to reach the grave.

FABLE LXXVII.

THE BOY AND THE RING-DOVE.

A GIDDY Boy, intent on play,
With bow and arrow took his way
To where a Ring-Dove in the grove
Sung her unvarying note of love.

The plaintive sound, the plumage white,
Struck his young ear, and caught his sight:"
In thoughtless haste his bow he drew,
Straight to the mark the arrow flew,
Transfix'd the dove with fatal wound,
And brought her flutt'ring to the ground.

With triumph sparkling in his eyes, He ran his victim to surprize,

But started, breathless, as he view'd Her silver feathers stain'd with blood; Her panting breast, her closing eye, And wept, too late! his cruelty.

Ye gay, who sport with Satire's darts, And thoughtless aim at human hearts, Approach your victims prostrate laid, And see the hayoc ye have made; Then will ye weep the sportive jest, That robb'd the innocent of rest; The witty tale will charm no more, That set the table in a roar; The shaft at others' bosoms thrown Will turn again to wound your own!

FABLE LXXVIII.

THE HARE AND THE TORTOISE.

GENIUS, a term of meaning wide!
(For sure no term so misapplied :)
How many bear the mighty name,
That never felt a real flame!
Proud of the specious appellation,
Thus fools have nam'd an Inclination.

But, yet, suppose a genius true;.30602
As, for example, me, or you 20 ania no iW
Some genial spark of Phoebus' rays, chor
Perhaps within our bosom plays. ima most
O! how the purer rays aspire,

If Application fans the fire!
Without it genius vainly tries,
Howe'er sometimes it seem to rise;
Nay, Application will prevail, o
When braggart parts and genius fail.
And, now, to lay my proof before
I here present you with a story.

ye,

A forward Hare, of swiftness vain,
The genius of the neighb'ring plain!
Would oft deride the drudging croud,-
For geniuses are ever proud.

His flight, he'd boast, 'twere vain to follow ;
For horse and dog, he'd beat them hollow:
Nay, if he put forth all his strength,
Outstrip his brethren half a length.

A Tortoise heard his vain oration, And vented thus his indignation: 'O Puss it bodes thee dire disgrace,

• When I defy thee to the race.

Come, 'tis a match,-nay, no denial :

'I lay my shell upon the trial.'

'Twas 'Done!' and 'Done;'-all fair-a bet

Judges prepar'd, and distance set.

The scamp'ring Hare outstripp'd the wind:

The creeping Tortoise lagg'd behind;

And scarce had past a single pole, by ma When Puss had almost reach'd the goal.

'Friend Tortoise,' cries the jeering Hare, ë 'Your burden's more than you can bear;99 'To help your speed, it were as well w

That I should ease you of your shell.

0

'I'll take a nap, and then be with thee.' woll
So said, so done and safely sure!
For, say, what conquest more secure?
Whene'er he wak'd (that's all that's in it) bek
He could o'ertake him in a minute.

The tortoise heard the taunting jeer,
But still resolv'd to persevere;

Still drawl'd along, as who should say,

I win, like Fabius, by delay;

On to the goal securely crept,

A

I

T

While Puss, unknowing, soundly slept.

The bets were won, the Hare awake, mo'l

When thus the victor Tortoise spake

'Puss, tho' I own thy quicker parts,

Things are not always won by starts; LA 'Thou may'st deride my awkward pace; bu 'But slow and steady wins the race? O

4

2

Y

FABLE LXXIX.

THE HARES WEARY OF LIFE.

THEY who have not sufficient share
Of patience, their own ills to bear,
Should those of other men inspect,
And thence deduce the wish'd effect.
Alarm'd by a prodigious cry,
The Hares one day resolv'd to die,
Rather than lead this life of dread;
They, therefore, all together sped
To seek a mountain, from whose height
They might themselves precipitate.
But, as they went, the race of Frogs
Were startled in their weedy bogs,
And miserably fled for fear-

'Alas! why there are others here,'
A Hare observ'd, whom woes molest ;
Then bear your burden like the rest.'