Truth in Fiction Or, Morality in Masquerade. A Collection of Two hundred twenty five Select Fables of Aesop, and other Authors. Done into English Verse. By Edmund Arwaker |
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| LIX. |
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| LXI. |
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| LXIII. | FABLE LXIII. The Lion and Mouse: |
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 | Truth in Fiction |  |
89
FABLE LXIII. The Lion and Mouse:
Or, A Deserved Requital.
A
Lion, tir'd with long Fatigue and Heat,
In a close Thicket sought a cool Retreat:
There (while at Ease the dreadful Savage lay)
A Herd of fearless Mice did round him play:
Rouz'd by whose trampling Feet, the angry Beast
Secur'd one Mouse, an Hostage for the rest.
The Captive begg'd he wou'd his Wrath asswage
Tow'rds one unworthy of his noble Rage.
The gen'rous Brute, to shew his noble Mind,
Wav'd his Resentment, and his Prey resign'd:
But did not the Reward of Goodness lose;
(So sure he Pity finds, who pity shews)
For soon, entangl'd in the Huntsman's Toils,
He was become a Spoil, who liv'd by Spoils.
At this Misfortune griev'd, he roar'd aloud,
To publish his Confinement through the Wood.
The grateful Mouse, that heard, and knew his Voice,
Ran quickly, as directed by the Noise;
And found him, who so nobly set her free,
Confin'd, and in despair of Liberty.
The pleasing Image of his Kindness past,
(Which still in her reflective Thoughts did last)
Induc'd her to return the Benefit,
She now with equal Favour cou'd requite.
In haste to execute the brave Design,
To which her Virtue did her Will encline.
She with her Teeth attacks the stubborn Cords,
And speedy Means for his Escape affords:
Thus, by a Work so gloriously essay'd,
She, for her Freedom, his Releasement paid.
In a close Thicket sought a cool Retreat:
There (while at Ease the dreadful Savage lay)
A Herd of fearless Mice did round him play:
Rouz'd by whose trampling Feet, the angry Beast
Secur'd one Mouse, an Hostage for the rest.
The Captive begg'd he wou'd his Wrath asswage
Tow'rds one unworthy of his noble Rage.
The gen'rous Brute, to shew his noble Mind,
Wav'd his Resentment, and his Prey resign'd:
But did not the Reward of Goodness lose;
(So sure he Pity finds, who pity shews)
90
He was become a Spoil, who liv'd by Spoils.
At this Misfortune griev'd, he roar'd aloud,
To publish his Confinement through the Wood.
The grateful Mouse, that heard, and knew his Voice,
Ran quickly, as directed by the Noise;
And found him, who so nobly set her free,
Confin'd, and in despair of Liberty.
The pleasing Image of his Kindness past,
(Which still in her reflective Thoughts did last)
Induc'd her to return the Benefit,
She now with equal Favour cou'd requite.
In haste to execute the brave Design,
To which her Virtue did her Will encline.
She with her Teeth attacks the stubborn Cords,
And speedy Means for his Escape affords:
Thus, by a Work so gloriously essay'd,
She, for her Freedom, his Releasement paid.
The MORAL.
‘You that are Great forbear to give Offence,‘And do not, ev'n the meanest Wretch, incense;
‘Lest you (reduc'd by Fortune's restless Wheel)
‘May want his Help, or his Resentment feel.
‘The poorest Object which you scorn and slight,
‘May Benefits, or Injuries, requite.
‘Strive, by unlimited Beneficence,
‘To find, or to deserve, a grateful Sense:
‘For Gratitude can never want a Place
‘In any Mind, but the deprav'd and base.
| Truth in Fiction | |