 | Poems on Affairs of State |  |
48
Fab. I. Fair Warning.
In Æsop's new-made World of Wit,Where Beasts could talk, and read, and write,
And say and do as he saw fit;
A certain Fellow thought himself abus'd,
And represented by an Ass:
And Æsop to the Judge accus'd
That he defamed was.
Friend, quoth the Judge, how do you know
Whether you are defam'd or no?
49
You, rather than another Man?
Sir, quoth the Man, it needs must be,
All Circumstances so agree,
And all the Neighbours say 'tis Me.
That's somewhat, quoth the Judge, indeed;
But let this Matter pass,
Since 'twas not Æsop, 'tis agreed,
But Application made the Ass.
| Poems on Affairs of State | |