Occasional Poems Translations, Fables, Tales, &c. By William Somervile |
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| II. |
FABLE III. |
| IX. |
| X. |
| XI. |
| XIII. |
 | XIV. |
 | Occasional Poems |  |
166
FABLE III.
The Ant and the Fly.
Quem res plus nimio delectavêre secundæ,
Mutatæ quatient. ------
Hor.
Mutatæ quatient. ------
Hor.
The careful Ant that meanly fares,
And labours hardly to supply,
With wholesome Cates, and homely Tares,
His num'rous working Family;
And labours hardly to supply,
With wholesome Cates, and homely Tares,
His num'rous working Family;
Upon a Visit met one day
His Cousin Fly, in all his Pride,
A Courtier, insolent, and gay,
By Goody Maggot near ally'd:
His Cousin Fly, in all his Pride,
A Courtier, insolent, and gay,
By Goody Maggot near ally'd:
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The humble Insect humbly bow'd,
And all his lowest Congees paid,
Of an Alliance wond'rous proud
To such a huffing tearing Blade.
And all his lowest Congees paid,
Of an Alliance wond'rous proud
To such a huffing tearing Blade.
The haughty Fly, look'd big, and swore
He knew him not, nor whence he came,
Huff'd much, and with Impatience bore
The Scandal of so mean a Claim.
He knew him not, nor whence he came,
Huff'd much, and with Impatience bore
The Scandal of so mean a Claim.
Friend Clodpate, know, 'tis not the mode
At Court, to own such Clowns as thee,
Nor is it civil to intrude
On Flies of Rank and Quality.
At Court, to own such Clowns as thee,
Nor is it civil to intrude
On Flies of Rank and Quality.
I—who in Joy and Indolence,
Converse with Monarchs, and Grandees,
Regaling ev'ry nicer Sense
With Oleos, Soups, and Fricassees;
Converse with Monarchs, and Grandees,
Regaling ev'ry nicer Sense
With Oleos, Soups, and Fricassees;
168
Who kiss each Beauty's balmy Lip,
Or gently buz into her Ear,
About her snowy Bosom skip,
And sometimes creep the Lord knows where.
Or gently buz into her Ear,
About her snowy Bosom skip,
And sometimes creep the Lord knows where.
The Ant, who cou'd no longer bear
His Cousin's Insolence, and Pride,
Toss'd up his Head, and with an Air
Of conscious Worth, he thus reply'd:
His Cousin's Insolence, and Pride,
Toss'd up his Head, and with an Air
Of conscious Worth, he thus reply'd:
Vain Insect know, the time will come,
When the Court-Sun no more shall shine,
When Frosts thy gaudy Limbs benumb,
And Damps about thy Wings shall twine;
When the Court-Sun no more shall shine,
When Frosts thy gaudy Limbs benumb,
And Damps about thy Wings shall twine;
When some dark nasty Hole shall hide,
And cover thy neglected Head,
When all this lofty swelling Pride
Shall burst, and shrink into a Shade:
And cover thy neglected Head,
When all this lofty swelling Pride
Shall burst, and shrink into a Shade:
169
Take heed, lest Fortune change the Scene,
Some of thy Brethren I remember,
In June have mighty Princes been,
But begg'd their Bread before December.
Some of thy Brethren I remember,
In June have mighty Princes been,
But begg'd their Bread before December.
MORAL.
This precious Offspring of a T---dIs first a Pimp, and then a Lord;
Ambitious to be Great, not Good,
Forgets his own dear Flesh and Blood.
Blind Goddess! who delight'st in Joke,
O fix him on thy lowest Spoke;
And since the Scoundrel is so vain,
Reduce him to a T---d again.
| Occasional Poems | |