 | Poems on Affairs of State |  |
79
Fab. XV. Esop sent to Bedlam.
Æsop
o'ercome with Wind and Spleen,
At Tunbridge sought relief;
In hopes that change of Air, and Scene,
Might ease him of his Grief.
But there such Shoals of Fools he met,
And Knaves twice dipt in Grain;
Not the fam'd Waters they were at,
Cou'd e'er take out the Stain.
In vain a Friend among the Youth
He sought all Tunbridge round;
Till sneaking Solitary Truth
He in a Corner found.
Thus met, they readily agree,
And did strange Tales devise
Lab'ring to make those Coxcombs see,
That would put out their Eyes.
Till nettled at their just Reproof,
The Knaves and Fools combine;
And him and his Companion both
To a dark room confine.
Next Stage, they knew not why or how,
For London they were bound;
Where both of 'em together now,
In Bedlam may be found.
At Tunbridge sought relief;
In hopes that change of Air, and Scene,
Might ease him of his Grief.
But there such Shoals of Fools he met,
And Knaves twice dipt in Grain;
Not the fam'd Waters they were at,
Cou'd e'er take out the Stain.
In vain a Friend among the Youth
He sought all Tunbridge round;
Till sneaking Solitary Truth
He in a Corner found.
Thus met, they readily agree,
And did strange Tales devise
Lab'ring to make those Coxcombs see,
That would put out their Eyes.
Till nettled at their just Reproof,
The Knaves and Fools combine;
And him and his Companion both
To a dark room confine.
Next Stage, they knew not why or how,
For London they were bound;
Where both of 'em together now,
In Bedlam may be found.
In vain we strive Mens Errors to correct,
Or point out Follies which themselves neglect.
Fools are a stubborn Race and hard to break,
Wisdom's the only Gift they scorn to take;
And he that shews his Brains to such a Rout,
Takes a fair way to have 'em beaten out.
Wise Men in them alone mistake their Tools,
Knaves only have the Skill to manage Fools.
Let empty Fops be proud of their Mishap,
For he that takes it off, deserves the Cap.
Or point out Follies which themselves neglect.
Fools are a stubborn Race and hard to break,
Wisdom's the only Gift they scorn to take;
And he that shews his Brains to such a Rout,
Takes a fair way to have 'em beaten out.
Wise Men in them alone mistake their Tools,
Knaves only have the Skill to manage Fools.
80
For he that takes it off, deserves the Cap.
| Poems on Affairs of State | |