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 |  |
20
FABLE XV. The Gnat and Bee:
Or, Young Idlers, Old Beggars.
An airy Gnat, bred by the Sun's warm Rays,
That had no thought of feeling colder days;
And no Provision made all Summer long,
But trifl'd it away in empty Song;
With want of Food, and Winter's piercing Frost,
Famish'd, and chill'd, and ready to be lost;
From an industrious Bee Relief implor'd,
Whose House she saw was plentifully stor'd;
And, for the Favour, offer'd to impart
To all the Young Ones, her melodious Art.
But the more frugal Bee, who well observ'd
The reason why this Idler justly starv'd,
The pressing Unthrift modestly deny'd,
And with this mild, but home Rebuke, reply'd:
Elsewhere, my Friend, your vain Instructions try,
My Off-spring shall on mine alone rely;
Bred to such Work as is its own Reward,
And will from Cold and Hunger be their Guard.
That had no thought of feeling colder days;
And no Provision made all Summer long,
But trifl'd it away in empty Song;
With want of Food, and Winter's piercing Frost,
Famish'd, and chill'd, and ready to be lost;
From an industrious Bee Relief implor'd,
Whose House she saw was plentifully stor'd;
And, for the Favour, offer'd to impart
To all the Young Ones, her melodious Art.
But the more frugal Bee, who well observ'd
The reason why this Idler justly starv'd,
The pressing Unthrift modestly deny'd,
And with this mild, but home Rebuke, reply'd:
Elsewhere, my Friend, your vain Instructions try,
My Off-spring shall on mine alone rely;
Bred to such Work as is its own Reward,
And will from Cold and Hunger be their Guard.
The MORAL.
‘While early Industry, and timely Cares,‘Provide Supports for our declining Years;
‘An idle, thriftless Youth, gives sure Presage
‘Of an unpity'd Penury in Age.
| Truth in Fiction | |