The Poems of John Byrom :: :: University of Virginia Library

Old Æsop so famous was certainiy right
In the Way that he took to instruct and delight,
By giving to Creatures, Beasts, Fishes, and Birds,
Nay to Things, tho' inanimate, Language and Words.
He engag'd by his Fables th' Attention of Youth,
And forc'd even Fiction to tell them the Truth;

II

Not so quickly forgot, as the Mind is more able
To retain a true Hint in the shape of a Fable;
And Allusions to Nature insensibly raise
The Reflection suggested by fabular Phrase,

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That affords less exception for Cavil to find,
While the Moral more gently slides into the Mind.

III

Thus, to hint that a Kingdom will flourish the most,
Where the Men in high Station are fit for their Post,
And disgraces attend both on Person and Station,
If Regard be not had to due Qualification,
He invented, they tell us, this Fable of old,
Which the Place I am in now requires to be told.

IV

The Beasts, on a Time, when the Lion was dead,
Met together in Council to choose them a Head;
And, to give to their new Constitution a Shape
Most like to the human, they fix'd on the Ape;
They crown'd, and proclaim'd him by Parliament Plan,
And never was Monkey so like to a Man.

V

The Fox, being fam'd for his Cunning and Wit,
Was propos'd to their Choicc, but they did not think fit
To elect such a Sharper, lest, watching his Hour,
He should cunningly creep into absolute Pow'r;
No fear of King Ape, or of being so rid:
He would mind his Diversion, and do as they did.

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VI

Sly Reynard, on this, was resolv'd to expose
Poor Pug, whom the Senate so formally chose;
And having observ'd in his Rambles a Gin
Where a delicate Morsel was nicely hung in,
He let the King know what a Prize he had found,
And the Waste, where it lay, was his Majesty's Ground.

VII

“Show me where,” said the Ape; so the Treasure was shown,
Which he seiz'd with Paw Royal, to make it his own;
But the Gin, at same time, was dispos'd to resist,
And clapping together caught Pug by the Wrist,
Who perceiv'd, by his Fingers laid fast in the Stocks,
What a Trick had been play'd by his Subject the Fox.

VIII

“Thou Traitor!” said he, “but I'll make thee anon
An Example of Vengeance”; and so he went on,
With a Rage most Monarchical. Reynard, who ey'd
The Success of his Scheme, gave a Sigh, and reply'd:
“Well, adieu, Royal Sir! 'twas a cruel Mishap,
That your Majesty's Grace did not understand Trap!”