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 XII. The Sick Ass.
The Mock-Mourners.
An
Ass fell Sick, and the Report grew rife,
That he, poor Creature, was past Hopes of Life:
The Dogs and Wolves, with forward Zeal, pretend
To bid Adieu to their Departing Friend:
But finding, when they went, the Door was barr'd,
They knock'd, and ask'd how their good Neighbour far'd.
To whom his Son, through a small Chink, reply'd,
Much better, Sirs, than you wou'd wish he did.
That he, poor Creature, was past Hopes of Life:
The Dogs and Wolves, with forward Zeal, pretend
To bid Adieu to their Departing Friend:
But finding, when they went, the Door was barr'd,
They knock'd, and ask'd how their good Neighbour far'd.
To whom his Son, through a small Chink, reply'd,
Much better, Sirs, than you wou'd wish he did.
The MORAL.
‘Thus many, with dissembl'd Tears and Breath,‘Seem to lament their Friends approaching Death;
‘Tho' from another Cause they truly grieve,
‘Not that they are to Die, but that they Live.
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‘And keeps th' Estate, he fain wou'd have, too long:
‘Or if the Parent do's his Succour need;
‘From the Incumbrance wishes to be free'd.
‘The Wife supposes, were her Husband dead,
‘She might be happy in another's Bed.
‘The Husband, whom his try'd Enjoyments cloy,
‘In a new Wife expects improving Joy.
‘Thus, for some Object hated, or desir'd,
‘We of our Friends, or they of us, are tir'd.
| Truth in Fiction | |