Moral and political fables ancient and modern. Done into Measurd Prose intermixd with Ryme. By Dr. Walter Pope |
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| XX. |
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Fab. XXII. The Swallow and Birds. |
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 | Moral and political fables |  |
19
Fab. XXII. The Swallow and Birds.
A Certain Farmer sowd a Field with Flax,
When that Plant was not well known in the World,
Being resolvd to try what 'twould produce,
Not thinking it would prove of so great use,
Feed, and employ so many thousand Poor.
A Swallow, who had traveld far, and knew
To what use it was put in remote Parts,
Fearing that Mode might be there introducd,
Causd all the Birds to meet in Parliament,
Told them th' Effect of that pernicious Plant,
And what they must expect when 'twas grown up;
To'th' place where'ts sown by general consent,
Let's go, said he, and pick up every Seed,
And so secure our Nation from that Weed.
But they laught at him for a fearful Fool,
The Flax springs up, which he beheld with grief,
And desird all the Birds to meet again,
You see, said he, that Plant begins to mount
His Head above the Earth, now while 'tis young,
Let us all go, and pull't up by the root.
They laught, and one replyd, Pray Sir go you,
We trouble not our heads with future things.
In a short time the Flax was ripe, and pluckt,
And thousand Nets in every Field were spred
Upon the Rivers Banks, and in the Woods,
And then the Swallow met the Birds again,
And found them sad, and heard them all complain,
How many of their Kindred had been slain,
How many Prisoners were in Iron Cages;
'Tis now too late, said he, with patience bear
The Miseries you have drawn upon your selves,
Which I foretold, and shewd how to prevent,
Movd by the Public Interest, not mine own,
For then, I knew how to secure my self
Against the Miseries which I foresaw.
Now I am safe, having made Peace with Man,
Which I'm convincd none of you ever can;
I live in's House, and please him with my Song,
And under such protection, fear no wrong.
When that Plant was not well known in the World,
Being resolvd to try what 'twould produce,
Not thinking it would prove of so great use,
Feed, and employ so many thousand Poor.
A Swallow, who had traveld far, and knew
To what use it was put in remote Parts,
Fearing that Mode might be there introducd,
Causd all the Birds to meet in Parliament,
Told them th' Effect of that pernicious Plant,
And what they must expect when 'twas grown up;
To'th' place where'ts sown by general consent,
Let's go, said he, and pick up every Seed,
And so secure our Nation from that Weed.
But they laught at him for a fearful Fool,
The Flax springs up, which he beheld with grief,
And desird all the Birds to meet again,
You see, said he, that Plant begins to mount
His Head above the Earth, now while 'tis young,
Let us all go, and pull't up by the root.
They laught, and one replyd, Pray Sir go you,
We trouble not our heads with future things.
In a short time the Flax was ripe, and pluckt,
And thousand Nets in every Field were spred
Upon the Rivers Banks, and in the Woods,
20
And found them sad, and heard them all complain,
How many of their Kindred had been slain,
How many Prisoners were in Iron Cages;
'Tis now too late, said he, with patience bear
The Miseries you have drawn upon your selves,
Which I foretold, and shewd how to prevent,
Movd by the Public Interest, not mine own,
For then, I knew how to secure my self
Against the Miseries which I foresaw.
Now I am safe, having made Peace with Man,
Which I'm convincd none of you ever can;
I live in's House, and please him with my Song,
And under such protection, fear no wrong.
The Moral.
They justly suffer who reject Advice. | Moral and political fables | |