 | The poems of Dr. Yalden |  |
FABLE XV. THE PEACOCK PROCLAIMED KING.
A Vulture, old and feeble grown,
Took up and much reform'd his life;
His beak decay'd, and talons gone,
Yet still he relish'd noise and strife:
Once a young Peacock to the birds brought forth,
On his high birth harangued, and blooming worth.
Took up and much reform'd his life;
His beak decay'd, and talons gone,
Yet still he relish'd noise and strife:
Once a young Peacock to the birds brought forth,
On his high birth harangued, and blooming worth.
“The isles and watery realm,” said he,
“This hopeful monarch shall command!
His sceptre to depend on me,
And rule the tributary land;
Reserving only for our royal use,
Whate'er the seas and fertile coasts produce.”
“This hopeful monarch shall command!
His sceptre to depend on me,
And rule the tributary land;
Reserving only for our royal use,
Whate'er the seas and fertile coasts produce.”
The Peacock, a pert dapper spark,
Made the sagacious Vulture's choice;
His title and descent, though dark,
Soon gain'd the whole assembly's voice,
The Pye except, a member of the board,
Who, midst their acclamations, crav'd a word.
Made the sagacious Vulture's choice;
His title and descent, though dark,
Soon gain'd the whole assembly's voice,
The Pye except, a member of the board,
Who, midst their acclamations, crav'd a word.
“His highness' merits and desert,”
Quoth he, “'tis needless to dispute!
In giving empires we're too pert,
With neither right nor power to do 't;
You've made a Peacock king: pray now 'tis done,
What champion here conducts him to his throne,
Quoth he, “'tis needless to dispute!
In giving empires we're too pert,
With neither right nor power to do 't;
You've made a Peacock king: pray now 'tis done,
What champion here conducts him to his throne,
“Where the Imperial Eagle reigns,
Renown'd for arms and warlike might,
Who such a feeble youth disdains,
And Vultures dares engage in fight?
Therefore, messieurs, it is my private voice,
That the possessor first approve our choice.”
Renown'd for arms and warlike might,
Who such a feeble youth disdains,
And Vultures dares engage in fight?
Therefore, messieurs, it is my private voice,
That the possessor first approve our choice.”
THE MORAL.
Cæsar, that prince betrays his fears,
Who styles thee monarch in the field,
But, when thy army disappears,
To weak pretenders will thy titles yield.
Who styles thee monarch in the field,
But, when thy army disappears,
To weak pretenders will thy titles yield.
But wiser politicians say,
True conduct is not so much shown,
In giving others' realms away,
As in defending well their own.
True conduct is not so much shown,
In giving others' realms away,
As in defending well their own.
| The poems of Dr. Yalden | |