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 |  |
129
FABLE XXV. The Shepherd's Boy:
Or, A Lyar not Credited.
A wanton
Boy, that kept his Master's Flock,
The Neighbours Care and Kindness us'd to mock:
Often he cry'd, The Wolf! The Wolf is come!
And brought the friendly Villagers from Home.
When still they came, well arm'd, the Folds to guard,
They found no Wolf, but the abusive 'Herd.
Thus oft' deluded, they observ'd no more
His Cry, but let him, unregarded, roar:
At last, the Wolf attack'd the Folds indeed;
The Boy cry'd out; the People gave no heed:
They were so oft', by false Alarms, deceiv'd,
They thought he was not fit to be believ'd.
The Neighbours Care and Kindness us'd to mock:
Often he cry'd, The Wolf! The Wolf is come!
And brought the friendly Villagers from Home.
When still they came, well arm'd, the Folds to guard,
They found no Wolf, but the abusive 'Herd.
Thus oft' deluded, they observ'd no more
His Cry, but let him, unregarded, roar:
At last, the Wolf attack'd the Folds indeed;
The Boy cry'd out; the People gave no heed:
They were so oft', by false Alarms, deceiv'd,
They thought he was not fit to be believ'd.
The MORAL.
‘A noted Lyar meets this due Reward,‘That his Reports, tho' true, find no Regard:
‘To gain Belief, he must to Strangers go;
‘For none will trust him, who his Falshood know:
‘But try'd Veracity no Voucher needs,
‘None scruple to believe what thence proceeds.
‘Their own Credentials true Men recommend,
‘And we on them, as Oracles depend.
| Truth in Fiction | |