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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| XIV. | FABLE XIV. The Old Man and Death.
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 | Truth in Fiction |  |
212
FABLE XIV. The Old Man and Death.
Life is Sweet.
A poor Old Wretch, who, to be cloath'd and fed,
By daily Labour earn'd his daily Bread;
Besides the Burthen of decrepit Age,
In bearing Loads of Faggots did engage:
But with the Toil fatigu'd, begg'd Death's Relief,
To end at once his Being, and his Grief.
The ghastly Spectre soon appear'd, to do
The grateful Service he was courted to;
But such a dreadful Visage did betray,
As frighted all Desires of him away.
The trembling Caitiff, at this Sight dismay'd,
And, ev'n when tir'd of Life, of Death afraid,
Did, to excuse his hasty Wish, contrive,
(For he wou'd longer, tho' in Mis'ry live)
In hope to shun the formidable Stroke,
He thus the Executioner bespoke:
Sir, I perceive, since your kind Help I sought,
I have not such Occasion as I thought:
That you shou'd ease my Burden, was my Drift,
But now, to bear it, I can make a shift:
While I am able, I my self will serve,
And for some other Time your Help reserve.
By daily Labour earn'd his daily Bread;
Besides the Burthen of decrepit Age,
In bearing Loads of Faggots did engage:
But with the Toil fatigu'd, begg'd Death's Relief,
To end at once his Being, and his Grief.
The ghastly Spectre soon appear'd, to do
The grateful Service he was courted to;
But such a dreadful Visage did betray,
As frighted all Desires of him away.
The trembling Caitiff, at this Sight dismay'd,
And, ev'n when tir'd of Life, of Death afraid,
Did, to excuse his hasty Wish, contrive,
(For he wou'd longer, tho' in Mis'ry live)
In hope to shun the formidable Stroke,
He thus the Executioner bespoke:
Sir, I perceive, since your kind Help I sought,
I have not such Occasion as I thought:
That you shou'd ease my Burden, was my Drift,
But now, to bear it, I can make a shift:
213
And for some other Time your Help reserve.
The MORAL.
‘So fond are Men, ev'n of Uneasie Life,‘They wou'd prolong the wretched Scene of Grief:
‘The Tragick Parts they act, can few engage
‘To quit contentedly the tiresom Stage.
‘If they who spend in Trouble all their Years,
‘And bend beneath a Load of Age, and Cares,
‘Find Life sit heavy, and the Burthen own;
‘Why shou'd they with Reluctance lay it down?
‘Why shou'd they hug what do's their Lives molest,
‘And shun the only Means to give them Rest?
| Truth in Fiction | |