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 | ||
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FABLE II. The Crow and Birds:
Or, Monarchy the best Government.
The
Birds consider'd, that the Eagle's Care
Cou'd scarce extend thro' all the spacious Air;
Its Feather'd Natives were so Num'rous grown,
They thought the Government too large for One:
And, for the better Guidance of the State,
Wou'd a Plurality of Kings create.
But the wise Crow, disliking that Design,
Advis'd, They shou'd the rash Attempt decline;
And told them, (for they wou'd his Reason know)
A less Expence wou'd fill one Sack, than two.
Cou'd scarce extend thro' all the spacious Air;
Its Feather'd Natives were so Num'rous grown,
They thought the Government too large for One:
And, for the better Guidance of the State,
Wou'd a Plurality of Kings create.
But the wise Crow, disliking that Design,
Advis'd, They shou'd the rash Attempt decline;
And told them, (for they wou'd his Reason know)
A less Expence wou'd fill one Sack, than two.
The MORAL.
‘In Common-wealths, where many Lords are found,‘The Peoples Suff'rings equally abound:
‘But shou'd a Monarch Arbitrary grow,
‘His Subjects still but One Oppressor know:
‘And sure, the Suff'rers less perceive the Harm,
‘To glut a single Hornet, than a Swarm.
Truth in Fiction | ||