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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| XXX. | FABLE XXX. The Impostor-Priest:
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| XXXI. |
 | Truth in Fiction |  |
FABLE XXX. The Impostor-Priest:
Or, 'Ware Geese, when the Fox Preaches.
A
Fox, that long, against his Will, kept Fast,
And was in pressing Want of some Repast;
Crept to a Hovel where much Poultry fed,
But found them safely roosted in their Shed:
Tho' his Chops water'd to be at the Fowl,
He cou'd not reach them, for his Heart and Soul:
In vain he mighty Friendship did pretend,
And, with sweet Words, desir'd them to descend.
And was in pressing Want of some Repast;
Crept to a Hovel where much Poultry fed,
But found them safely roosted in their Shed:
Tho' his Chops water'd to be at the Fowl,
He cou'd not reach them, for his Heart and Soul:
In vain he mighty Friendship did pretend,
And, with sweet Words, desir'd them to descend.
They, who knew all his seeming Love a Cheat,
Refus'd, and not a Hen wou'd leave her Seat.
Refus'd, and not a Hen wou'd leave her Seat.
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Reynard, who found he cou'd not thus prevail,
Resolv'd on Measures which but rarely fail:
In Priestly Vestments he himself disguis'd,
A Garb for which th' unworthy Wearer's pris'd;
And then, with Look demure and sanctify'd,
He to the Pullen thus himself apply'd:
Sisters, My Zeal, which seeks not yours, but you,
Has made me seek this pious Interview;
That you your Sins may to remembrance call,
And I may Shrive you, and Absolve you all:
Then leave, ah! quickly leave your lazy Beds,
And take my Hands and Blessing on your Heads.
Resolv'd on Measures which but rarely fail:
In Priestly Vestments he himself disguis'd,
A Garb for which th' unworthy Wearer's pris'd;
And then, with Look demure and sanctify'd,
He to the Pullen thus himself apply'd:
Sisters, My Zeal, which seeks not yours, but you,
Has made me seek this pious Interview;
That you your Sins may to remembrance call,
And I may Shrive you, and Absolve you all:
Then leave, ah! quickly leave your lazy Beds,
And take my Hands and Blessing on your Heads.
Th' unwary Hens, deluded by his Gown,
And Sanctimonious Cant, came quickly down;
But found the Hypocritick Zealot's Drift,
Aim'd rather at their Ruin than their Shrift:
And thus the Fools, by his False Shews betray'd,
Their Lives, for Hopes of Absolution, paid.
And Sanctimonious Cant, came quickly down;
But found the Hypocritick Zealot's Drift,
Aim'd rather at their Ruin than their Shrift:
And thus the Fools, by his False Shews betray'd,
Their Lives, for Hopes of Absolution, paid.
The MORAL.
‘Religion, Villany's successful Stale,‘Do's with its Name, to cheat Mankind, prevail:
‘And a Pretence to Goodness, tho unjust,
‘Extorts Belief, and rarely meets Distrust.
‘Where such dissembl'd Sanctity appears,
‘The chous'd Admirer no Delusion fears;
‘But those, who most deceive him, most do's love,
‘And thinks them honestest, who falsest prove.
‘Hence 'tis that Knaves, for Irreligion's sake,
‘Too often the Religious Habit take;
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‘And, undetected, Sin in that Disguise:
‘So, unsuspected in the Rev'rend Gown,
‘Blood gain'd admittance to, and stole the Crown.
| Truth in Fiction | |