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 | ||
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FABLE XX. The Lion and Frog:
Or, A great Noise, a great Nothing.
A
Lion, by surprizing Noise, alarm'd,
Rowz'd; and himself for sharp Encounter arm'd:
He thought it a Rhinoceros at least,
Or some unknown and more Gigantick Beast:
Long time he list'ned, and almost did fear,
'Till he beheld the Enemy appear:
But when he found a Frog made all that Noise,
A puny Creature, little else but Voice;
He spurn'd the slimy Insect with disdain,
And said, Thou shalt not tempt my Rage again.
Rowz'd; and himself for sharp Encounter arm'd:
He thought it a Rhinoceros at least,
Or some unknown and more Gigantick Beast:
Long time he list'ned, and almost did fear,
'Till he beheld the Enemy appear:
But when he found a Frog made all that Noise,
A puny Creature, little else but Voice;
He spurn'd the slimy Insect with disdain,
And said, Thou shalt not tempt my Rage again.
The MORAL.
‘When you loud Rant, or noisie Boastings, hear,‘Despise the Authors, and suppress the Fear.
‘Such Rodomonts can do you little wrong,
‘Whose only dang'rous Weapon is their Tongue.
‘From loaded Cannon Men may dread a Wound,
‘Where Execution still precedes the Sound:
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‘They do no mischief after, nor before.
Truth in Fiction | ||