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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| XXXIX. | FABLE XXXIX. The Shepherd's Voyage:
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 | Truth in Fiction |  |
248
FABLE XXXIX. The Shepherd's Voyage:
Or, Caution, from Experience.
A happy
Peasant, rich in fleecy Sheep,
Which, with assiduous Care, himself did keep;
While he, one Evening, fed the bleating Flock,
Observ'd the Ocean, from a neighb'ring Rock:
Its smiling Image was all calm and fair,
Not wrinkl'd by a Blast of Ruffling Air;
And the declining Sun's more radiant Beams
Gilded it Surface with reflected Gleams.
The Man grew fond of the false Element,
And thought his Time wou'd there be better spent;
Chang'd his sure Profit, for uncertain Wares,
His easie Business, for a Life of Cares;
Fraighted a Ship, and, big with Hopes of Gain,
Forsook the Land, to traffick on the Main.
But there he did not long his Fortune try,
E're he perceiv'd its Instability;
A frowning Tempest spoil'd its former Grace,
And with impostum'd Waves o'erspread its Face.
At once the roaring Deep, and lowring Sky,
With Menaces of Death and Ruin vie;
Shock'd with the Rage of whose contending Force,
The shatter'd Vessel scarce cou'd keep her Course:
And by the Owner, in this dubious Strait,
Was, for his Safety, lightned of her Fraight.
Tir'd with the Sea, he soon did Homeward stand,
And, with much Difficulty, made the Land;
There to his first Employ himself betook,
And did with Horror on the Ocean look.
Which, with assiduous Care, himself did keep;
While he, one Evening, fed the bleating Flock,
Observ'd the Ocean, from a neighb'ring Rock:
Its smiling Image was all calm and fair,
Not wrinkl'd by a Blast of Ruffling Air;
And the declining Sun's more radiant Beams
Gilded it Surface with reflected Gleams.
The Man grew fond of the false Element,
And thought his Time wou'd there be better spent;
Chang'd his sure Profit, for uncertain Wares,
His easie Business, for a Life of Cares;
Fraighted a Ship, and, big with Hopes of Gain,
Forsook the Land, to traffick on the Main.
But there he did not long his Fortune try,
E're he perceiv'd its Instability;
A frowning Tempest spoil'd its former Grace,
And with impostum'd Waves o'erspread its Face.
At once the roaring Deep, and lowring Sky,
With Menaces of Death and Ruin vie;
Shock'd with the Rage of whose contending Force,
The shatter'd Vessel scarce cou'd keep her Course:
And by the Owner, in this dubious Strait,
Was, for his Safety, lightned of her Fraight.
249
And, with much Difficulty, made the Land;
There to his first Employ himself betook,
And did with Horror on the Ocean look.
Once as he led his Flock along the Shore,
And saw the Water wheedling, as before;
In vain, he cry'd, you smooth your Treach'rous Brow;
Your Falshood, and deluding Arts, I know:
You want another Cargo now, I see,
But shall no more prevail to Cully me.
And saw the Water wheedling, as before;
In vain, he cry'd, you smooth your Treach'rous Brow;
Your Falshood, and deluding Arts, I know:
You want another Cargo now, I see,
But shall no more prevail to Cully me.
The MORAL.
‘Wise Men once trick'd, the next Attempt discern,‘And Caution, from experienc'd Dangers, learn:
‘Their Faith abus'd, they will confide no more,
‘Nor venture on the Rocks they scap'd before.
‘They who have been deceiv'd by Fortune's Smiles,
‘And know how her Dependants she beguiles;
‘No Confidence in her Caresses place,
‘But Ruin dread in ev'ry kind Embrace.
| Truth in Fiction | |