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 |  |
168
FABLE LII. The Thief and Mastiff:
Or, Honour and Honesty.
A gen'rous
Mastiff, to whose try'd Regard
His Master trusted all his House and Yard,
Was tempted by a Thief to prove Unjust,
And, for a hearty Meal, betray his Trust.
But he, Great Soul! that wou'd on no Pretence
Indulge his Belly, at his Fame's Expence;
Reply'd, No, Sir, your base Design I hate;
You'd stop my Mouth, to open yonder Gate;
That you may safely prey on what you see,
And empty all the House, by silling me:
But I alike your Bribe and you despise,
And less my Life, than Reputation prise.
His Master trusted all his House and Yard,
Was tempted by a Thief to prove Unjust,
And, for a hearty Meal, betray his Trust.
But he, Great Soul! that wou'd on no Pretence
Indulge his Belly, at his Fame's Expence;
Reply'd, No, Sir, your base Design I hate;
You'd stop my Mouth, to open yonder Gate;
That you may safely prey on what you see,
And empty all the House, by silling me:
But I alike your Bribe and you despise,
And less my Life, than Reputation prise.
The MORAL.
‘No tempting Profit can Great Souls entice‘To hazard Fame, of nobler Worth and Price.
‘Who Faith, or Honour, truck for an Estate,
‘Will find it purchas'd at too dear a Rate.
‘They Life o'er-value, who, to save it, give
‘The only Good for which they ought to live.
‘Integrity, above Allurements rais'd,
‘Contemns false Honours, to be justly prais'd;
‘With greatest Pleasure do's its Merit boast,
‘When its untainted Virtue costs it most.
| Truth in Fiction | |