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 |  |
FABLE XXVII. Jupiter and the Serpent:
Or, Sinners Sacrifice rejected.
Jove
, pleas'd to celebrate his Nuptial Feast,
Made ev'ry Animal a welcome Guest:
And each, as his Ability allow'd,
Some grateful Present on the God bestow'd.
Among the Croud the pois'nous Serpent went,
And to his Godship did a Rose present.
Offended at her Sight, he turn'd aside,
And her disdain'd Oblation thus deny'd;
Tho' I with Pleasure other Off'rings take,
Thy Gift is slighted for the Giver's sake.
Made ev'ry Animal a welcome Guest:
And each, as his Ability allow'd,
Some grateful Present on the God bestow'd.
Among the Croud the pois'nous Serpent went,
And to his Godship did a Rose present.
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And her disdain'd Oblation thus deny'd;
Tho' I with Pleasure other Off'rings take,
Thy Gift is slighted for the Giver's sake.
The MORAL.
‘No Gifts from Men of base Designs receive,‘For Treach'ry lurks in ev'ry thing they give:
‘And Wise Men, who beyond Appearance look,
‘Beneath the specious Bait perceive the Hook.
‘Heav'n do's Oblations from ill Men despise,
‘And, as their Crimes, detests their Sacrifice;
‘Abhors the Incense whose deceitful Smoak
‘Is rais'd, their blacker Villanies to cloak.
| Truth in Fiction | |