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. |
| XXXI. | FABLE XXXI. The Old Man, his Son, and Ass:
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 | Truth in Fiction |  |
FABLE XXXI. The Old Man, his Son, and Ass:
Or, No pleasing all Men.
An
Aged Sire, frosted with Hoary Hairs,
And a young Stripling in his Blooming Years,
Went to a Fair, where Gazers seldom fail,
And drove an Empty Ass, design'd for Sale.
The People, who observ'd them on the Road,
And saw the useless Beast without a Load;
Laugh'd at their Folly, That, since both were tir'd,
Each did neglect the Help his Age requir'd:
And said, They spar'd in vain the abler Beast,
'Twas reasonable one shou'd ride, at least.
The tender Father gave his Son the Place,
And by his Side walk'd on with sober Pace:
But this the murm'ring Croud severely blames,
Condemns the Senior, and the Youngster shames;
Since, without just Regard to either's Age,
They had misplac'd the Rider and the Page:
They said, The Sire shou'd ride, whom Years oppress'd;
The Son was stronger, and cou'd foot it best.
The Youth alights, and lets his Father ride,
And walks, with humble Rev'rence, by his Side:
But this as little Satisfaction gave,
The fickle Mob the censur'd Parent slave;
Say, He shou'd walk, whose Limbs were tough and strong,
And mount the Lad, who was but soft and young.
The Sire, to please them, takes his Son behind:
But at this Course the People more repin'd;
And said, The Ass, which with such Weight they tir'd,
Was not their own, but borrow'd sure, or hir'd.
The Old Man, with their diff'rent Censures teaz'd,
Since neither Riding, neither Walking, pleas'd,
Nor Mounting both, nor driving both the Ass,
Cou'd through the Throng, without Reflection, pass;
(In hope they wou'd at last be satisfy'd)
The Ass's Feet with Cords together ty'd,
And, on a Pole, on both their Shoulders laid,
They through the Fair the Raree-Show convey'd.
But this ridiculous Attempt, when seen,
Extremely tickl'd the Beholders Spleen;
Who thus made merry at the Father's Cost,
Tax'd both with Folly, but the Father most:
For tho' the Boy, in Duty, did submit;
They said, The Senior shou'd have had more Wit.
He, (vex'd at their Reproach) with just Disdain,
Resolv'd no more to humour them in vain;
But this last Way, to 'scape their Laughter, found,
He in a Pond, the Ass, that caus'd it, drown'd.
Thus, striving to please All, and pleasing None,
He lost his useful Beast, and was undone.
And a young Stripling in his Blooming Years,
Went to a Fair, where Gazers seldom fail,
And drove an Empty Ass, design'd for Sale.
The People, who observ'd them on the Road,
And saw the useless Beast without a Load;
Laugh'd at their Folly, That, since both were tir'd,
Each did neglect the Help his Age requir'd:
And said, They spar'd in vain the abler Beast,
'Twas reasonable one shou'd ride, at least.
The tender Father gave his Son the Place,
And by his Side walk'd on with sober Pace:
But this the murm'ring Croud severely blames,
Condemns the Senior, and the Youngster shames;
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They had misplac'd the Rider and the Page:
They said, The Sire shou'd ride, whom Years oppress'd;
The Son was stronger, and cou'd foot it best.
The Youth alights, and lets his Father ride,
And walks, with humble Rev'rence, by his Side:
But this as little Satisfaction gave,
The fickle Mob the censur'd Parent slave;
Say, He shou'd walk, whose Limbs were tough and strong,
And mount the Lad, who was but soft and young.
The Sire, to please them, takes his Son behind:
But at this Course the People more repin'd;
And said, The Ass, which with such Weight they tir'd,
Was not their own, but borrow'd sure, or hir'd.
The Old Man, with their diff'rent Censures teaz'd,
Since neither Riding, neither Walking, pleas'd,
Nor Mounting both, nor driving both the Ass,
Cou'd through the Throng, without Reflection, pass;
(In hope they wou'd at last be satisfy'd)
The Ass's Feet with Cords together ty'd,
And, on a Pole, on both their Shoulders laid,
They through the Fair the Raree-Show convey'd.
But this ridiculous Attempt, when seen,
Extremely tickl'd the Beholders Spleen;
Who thus made merry at the Father's Cost,
Tax'd both with Folly, but the Father most:
For tho' the Boy, in Duty, did submit;
They said, The Senior shou'd have had more Wit.
He, (vex'd at their Reproach) with just Disdain,
Resolv'd no more to humour them in vain;
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He in a Pond, the Ass, that caus'd it, drown'd.
Thus, striving to please All, and pleasing None,
He lost his useful Beast, and was undone.
The MORAL.
‘He, who his Actions by Opinion rules,‘Condemns himself to live a Slave to Fools:
‘To humour those whose Humours disagree,
‘Is to attempt Impossiblity.
‘The Mob, by various Sentiments inclin'd,
‘Is fickle, and uncertain as the Wind:
‘Each has a diff'rent Object of his Love,
‘And some despise what other some approve.
‘Whoe'er himself to sure such Tempers strains,
‘Do's to no Purpose lavish Time and Pains.
‘Let Reason and Discretion guide thy Ways,
‘Thou need'st not care what Fools condemn, or praise.
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FINIS.
| Truth in Fiction | |