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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| XXI. | FABLE XXI. The Wolf disguised: |
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 | Truth in Fiction |  |
FABLE XXI. The Wolf disguised:
Or, A Saint without, a Devil within.
A rav'nous
Wolf, addicted much to steal,
(That he might better his Designs conceal)
In borrow'd Sheep-skin Dress himself array'd,
And thus disguis'd, his Pranks securely play'd.
The Shepherd, who observ'd his Flock decay,
And thought their Number lessen'd ev'ry Day,
A stricter Watch about his Folds did keep,
And found the Wolf in the dissembled Sheep:
He seiz'd the Thief, and hang'd him on a Tree,
A sad Example for all Wolves to see.
The Neighbours wonder'd what the Man design'd,
To hang his Sheep; and said, He sure was blind:
For so much Rigour they ne'er saw before,
And thought he cou'd not use a Wolf with more.
But he reply'd, This Sheep in outward Shew,
Prov'd a meer Wolf when he my Weathers slew.
(That he might better his Designs conceal)
In borrow'd Sheep-skin Dress himself array'd,
And thus disguis'd, his Pranks securely play'd.
The Shepherd, who observ'd his Flock decay,
And thought their Number lessen'd ev'ry Day,
A stricter Watch about his Folds did keep,
And found the Wolf in the dissembled Sheep:
He seiz'd the Thief, and hang'd him on a Tree,
A sad Example for all Wolves to see.
The Neighbours wonder'd what the Man design'd,
To hang his Sheep; and said, He sure was blind:
For so much Rigour they ne'er saw before,
And thought he cou'd not use a Wolf with more.
But he reply'd, This Sheep in outward Shew,
Prov'd a meer Wolf when he my Weathers slew.
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The MORAL.
‘No Credit to Appearance shou'd be giv'n,‘Since harden'd Wretches wou'd impose on Heav'n:
‘Their rotten Hearts with specious Shew they paint,
‘And hide the Dev'l behind the seeming Saint.
‘Unmask the Hypocrites, and look within,
‘Their Virtue goes no deeper than the Skin:
‘And Wise Men never will Appearance prize,
‘But fair Pretences, for foul Ends, despise.
| Truth in Fiction | |