Moral and political fables ancient and modern. Done into Measurd Prose intermixd with Ryme. By Dr. Walter Pope |
Moral and political fables | ||
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Fab. XIV. The Dog and Shadow.
A Dog, with Flesh in's Mouth, crossing the Po,
Perceivd his Shadow in the Stream below,
And byth' Refraction of the Rays deceiv'd,
He th' Objects greater than they were believd;
Greater the Dog, greater the piece of Flesh,
Snatching at which he dropt his own, and said,
Good Gods, how bad a Bargain have I made,
I have lost the Substance, grasping at the Shade;
Have I not wisely manag'd this Affair,
To quit a Bird in Hand for one in th' Air?
Perceivd his Shadow in the Stream below,
And byth' Refraction of the Rays deceiv'd,
He th' Objects greater than they were believd;
Greater the Dog, greater the piece of Flesh,
Snatching at which he dropt his own, and said,
Good Gods, how bad a Bargain have I made,
I have lost the Substance, grasping at the Shade;
Have I not wisely manag'd this Affair,
To quit a Bird in Hand for one in th' Air?
The Moral.
Buy not Hope dear, leave not a Lark in Hand,For all the Bustards upon Sal'sbury Plains.
Moral and political fables | ||