Moral and political fables ancient and modern. Done into Measurd Prose intermixd with Ryme. By Dr. Walter Pope |
 |
 | Moral and political fables |  |
Fab. XLII. The Cuckow and Birds.
Several Birds were perchd on the same Tree,
And near the top, a solitary Cuckow,
Almost coverd with Leaves, whom when a Pye
Espied, believing that it was a Hawk,
He with all hast retird, to save his life;
The rest o'th' Birds, at the next Rendevous,
Reproachd him for his needless cowardly flight;
To whom the Pye, no other answer made,
But this, I'd rather't should of me be said,
He took a Cuckow for a Hawk, and fled
Than a Hawk for a Cuckow, and is dead,
And near the top, a solitary Cuckow,
Almost coverd with Leaves, whom when a Pye
Espied, believing that it was a Hawk,
He with all hast retird, to save his life;
The rest o'th' Birds, at the next Rendevous,
Reproachd him for his needless cowardly flight;
To whom the Pye, no other answer made,
But this, I'd rather't should of me be said,
He took a Cuckow for a Hawk, and fled
Than a Hawk for a Cuckow, and is dead,
Moral.
There's no Comparison betwixt Shame, and Pain. | Moral and political fables | |