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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 | Truth in Fiction |  |
116
FABLE XIV. The Leopard and Fox:
Or, Intrinsick Beauty best.
A
Leopard, for his outward Beauty, pris'd
Himself, and all his fellow-Beasts despis'd.
A wiser Fox, that did his Pride disdain,
Advis'd the Creature not to be so vain;
And told him, 'Tis not in a specious Skin
True Worth consists, but Ornaments within:
Why then shou'dst thou, conceited Fop, said he,
For thy gay Cloathing, look a-skue on me?
Heav'n, that this Out-side has to thee assign'd,
Gives me th' Advantage of a fairer Mind.
Himself, and all his fellow-Beasts despis'd.
A wiser Fox, that did his Pride disdain,
Advis'd the Creature not to be so vain;
And told him, 'Tis not in a specious Skin
True Worth consists, but Ornaments within:
Why then shou'dst thou, conceited Fop, said he,
For thy gay Cloathing, look a-skue on me?
Heav'n, that this Out-side has to thee assign'd,
Gives me th' Advantage of a fairer Mind.
The MORAL.
‘Exterior Charms, and superficial Grace,‘To the rich Ornament of Mind give Place:
‘For Chances may, and Age will, those impair,
‘But these, immortal as their Subject are.
| Truth in Fiction | |