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'Sure never stuff was half so bad!'..

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• That like a Pig!'-each cried in scoff, 'Pshaw! Nonsense! Blockhead off! off! off!' The Mimic was extoll'd; and Grouse

Was hiss'd, and cat-call'd from the house.
'Soft ye, a word before I go,'

Quoth honest Hodge and, stooping low,
Produc'd the Pig, and thus aloud
Bespoke the stupid, partial crowd :

• Behold, and learn from this poor creature,
'How much you Critics know of Nature'

FABLE XIX.

THE CAMELEON.

By the Rev. James Merrick.

OFT has it been my lot to marko i
A proud, conceited, talking spark,
With eyes, that hardly serv'd at most 1 VI.
To guard their master 'gainst a post ;
Yet round the world the blade has been
To see whatever could be seen.

Returning from his finish'd tour,
Grown ten times perter than before,
Whatever word you chance to drop,
The travell'd fool your mouth will stop,

'Sir, if my judgment you'll allow—';
'Ive seen and sure I ought to know'-
So begs you'll pay a due submission,
And acquiesce in his decision. ra
Two travellers of such a cast,
As o'er Arabia's wilds they pass'd,
And, on their way, in friendly chat,
Now talk'd of this, and then of that,"
Discours'd awhile, 'mongst other matter,
Of the Cameleon's form and nature:
'A stranger animal,' cries one
'Sure never liv'd beneath the sun;
'A lizard's body, lean and long,

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A fish's head, a serpent's tongue; Its foot with triple claw disjoin'd; 'And what a length of tail behind! 'How slow its pace, and then its hue,'Who ever saw so fine a blue?'

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'Hold there,' the other quick replies, "Tis green-I saw it with these eyes, As late with open mouth it lay,

' And warm'd it in the sunny ray;

Stretch'd at its ease the beast I view'd,
And saw it eat the air for food:'

'I've seen it, Sir, as well as you,
And must again affirm it blue:
• At leisure I the beast survey'd
⚫ Extended in the cooling shade.'

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"Tis green, 'tis green, Sir, I assure ye. 'Green!' cries the other in a fury as do me y

'Why, Sir,-d'ye think I've lost my eyes?
''Twere no great loss, the friend replies;
'For, if they always serve you thus,
'You'll find 'em but of little use."

So high at last the contest rose,
From words they almost came to blows:
When luckily came by a third-
To him the question they referr'd,
And begg'd he'd tell 'em, if he knew,
Whether the thing was green or blue?

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'Sirs,' cries the umpire, cease your pother— 'The creature's neither one nor t'other. 'I caught the animal last night, 'And view'd it o'er by candle light: 'I mark'd it well-'twas black as jet'You stare-but, Sirs, I've got it yet, 'And can produce it.' Pray, Sir, do : 'I'm confident the thing is blue.'

And I'll be bound, that, when you've seen 'The reptile, you'll pronounce him green.' Well, then, at once to ease the doubt,' Replies the man, 'I'll turn him out:

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'And, when before your eyes I've set him, 'If you don't find him black, I'll eat him.' He said, then full before their sight, Produc'd the beast, and, lo! 'twas-white.Both star'd, the man look'd wondrous wise 'My children,' the Cameleon cries, (Then first the creature found a tongue) You all are right, and all are wrong :

you view,

• When next you talk of what
• Think others see as well as you;
'Nor wonder, if you find that none
'Prefers your eye-sight to his own.

FABLE XX.

THB BEARS AND THE BEES.

By Merrick,

As two young Bears in wanton mood,
Forth issuing from a neighb'ring wood,
Came where th' industrious Bees had stor'd
In artful cells their luscious hoard;
O'erjoy'd they seiz'd with eager haste
Luxurious on the rich repast.

Alarm'd at this, the little crew
About their ears vindictive flew.
The beasts unable to sustain

Th' unequal combat, quit the plain,
Half blind with rage, and mad with pain,
Their native shelter they regain;
There sit, and, now, discreeter grown,
Too late, their rashness they bemoan;
And this, by dear experience, gain,
That pleasure's often bought with pain.
So, when the gilded baits of vice
Are plac'd before our longing eyes,

With greedy haste we snatch our fill,
And swallow down the latent ill;
But, when experience ope's our eyes,
Away the fancied pleasure flies,-
It flies, but, oh! too late we find,
It leaves a real sting behind.

FABLE XXI.

THE APE, THE PARROT, AND THE JACKDAW.

By William Wilkie, D.D.

I HOLD it rash, at any time,

To deal with fools dispos'd to rhime
Dissuasive arguments provoke
Their utmost rage as soon as spoke:
Encourage them, and, for a day
Or two, you're safe by giving way;
But, when they find themselves betray'd,
On you, at last, the blame is laid.

They hate and scorn you as a traitor,
The common lot of those who flatter.
But can a scribbler, Sir, be shunn'd?

What will you do when teaz'd and dunn'd?
When watch'd, and caught, and closely press'd,
When complimented and caress'd;

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