FABLE XXI. The Corrupt Judge:
Or, Ill gotten, Ill gone.
A
Judge, whose biass'd Hand, by Brib'ry sway'd,
The Scales of Justice oft' unequal made;
When sentenc'd to refund his ill-got Gain;
What he with Pleasure took, return'd with Pain.
One that observ'd his Lordship fume and fret,
Made this Remark on his extream Regret:
How like the Female-Sex our Judge appears,
Conceives in Transports, but Brings forth in Tears.
The MORAL.
‘The Wretches, whose brib'd Hands Corruption fouls,
‘And casts a deeper Sullage o'er their Souls;
‘Small Pleasure in their vile Acquests shall take,
‘Which they must leave, or which will them forsake.
‘Heav'n will not let them long enjoy the Gain
‘Which, by perverting Justice, they obtain:
‘What with Delight, tho' basely, they amass'd,
‘They shall as ill, with Terror, quit at last.
‘So Gluttons, who beyond Repletion eat,
‘And clog their Stomachs with Excess of Meat,
‘Find nauseous Crudities their Entrails burn;
‘And what they took with joy, with grief return.
