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 |  |
The MORAL.
‘Distempers oft'nest on the Wealthy seize,‘First bred by Softness, then encreas'd by Ease:
‘Where Action least is us'd, they most abound,
‘Like Thistles in uncultivated Ground.
‘But, as the frequent Tillage of a Soil
‘Do's banish Weeds, and all rank Products spoil;
‘So he, whose Fortune craves laborious Pains,
‘Prevents Diseases, and long Health maintains.
‘Nor are high Titles, or abundant Wealth,
‘To Liberty more friendly than to Health:
‘The Great, restrain'd from Life's more easie Rate,
‘Are Ceremonious Slaves, confin'd to State;
‘While Happy Men, in meaner Stations bless'd,
‘Live by no Rules but what are truly best:
‘Govern'd by Nature's Law, and Reason's Sway,
‘(Which 'tis the noblest Freedom to obey)
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‘With which all Pomp is clogg'd, and Grandeur cloy'd.
| Truth in Fiction | |