Aesop at Paris his letters and fables. Translated from the original French [by Edward Ward] |
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The Frogs and their King,
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The Frogs and their King,
A FABLE.
The
Frogs (like Men) uneasie in their Fate,
Desir'd a Change, so Jove did supplicate,
To grant to them a King, that they might be
Rul'd, like their Neighbours, in a Monarchy.
Desir'd a Change, so Jove did supplicate,
To grant to them a King, that they might be
Rul'd, like their Neighbours, in a Monarchy.
The condescending God did grant their Pray'r,
And dub'd a Log their King; they strait prepare,
Awful respect to pay to their new King,
That was a Quiet and Unthinking Thing;
And let his Subjects do what e'er they wou'd,
Croak when they pleas'd, at pleasure swam the Flood.
Yet not content, tho' Will to them was Law,
They Scoft that King that had not Skill to Awe.
And dub'd a Log their King; they strait prepare,
Awful respect to pay to their new King,
That was a Quiet and Unthinking Thing;
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Croak when they pleas'd, at pleasure swam the Flood.
Yet not content, tho' Will to them was Law,
They Scoft that King that had not Skill to Awe.
Dissatisfy'd, they Pray'd to Jove again,
That he would give a War-like King to Reign:
That he, by's Power, from Foes might them Defend;
And Lead their Armies, when they would Offend.
That he would give a War-like King to Reign:
That he, by's Power, from Foes might them Defend;
And Lead their Armies, when they would Offend.
Jove, in compliance, sent the Crane to Rule,
Who soon devour'd his Subjects of the Pool;
Spar'd neither Age, nor Sex, that he could find,
But to each Subject was alike Unkind.
In vain they Grieve, in vain they Curse his Pow'r,
That hath both Force and Humour to Devour.
Who soon devour'd his Subjects of the Pool;
Spar'd neither Age, nor Sex, that he could find,
But to each Subject was alike Unkind.
In vain they Grieve, in vain they Curse his Pow'r,
That hath both Force and Humour to Devour.
Reflection.
The Spanish Monarchy was Lazy grown,
And had a Log-like K--- to fill the Throne
Unfit for Council, and for Action too,
('Tis bad when one can neither Say nor Do.)
This being their Fate, some few Designing Peers,
Acted the Monarchs part for many Years:
Did, and Undid what ever they thought fit,
The Monarchs Sense would never question it:
His easie Temper made his Subjects be
Saucy, Contemptuous of his Dignity.
He, King in Sine Cure, did ne'er Command,
The Manage of his large extending Land.
So slighted for his Weakness, they desir'd
A Change, and a new King of Jove requir'd,
That with Wise Conduct might theis Armies Lead;
And shew himself an active worthy Head.
And had a Log-like K--- to fill the Throne
Unfit for Council, and for Action too,
('Tis bad when one can neither Say nor Do.)
This being their Fate, some few Designing Peers,
Acted the Monarchs part for many Years:
Did, and Undid what ever they thought fit,
The Monarchs Sense would never question it:
His easie Temper made his Subjects be
Saucy, Contemptuous of his Dignity.
He, King in Sine Cure, did ne'er Command,
The Manage of his large extending Land.
So slighted for his Weakness, they desir'd
A Change, and a new King of Jove requir'd,
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And shew himself an active worthy Head.
Whether by Fates Decree, or from their Pray'r,
Their King is Dead, and they have made an Heir,
Him to Succeed, which like the Crane may prove
Rav'nous, Destructive, wheresoe'er he move:
The Callow Bird, weak and not Fledg'd by Age,
As yet, himself expresses little Rage;
But has to Grandsire Crane given the Pow'r
To Rule at Will; to Save, or to Devour:
And fam'd throughout the World, his temper's known,
Cruel to Strangers, Barb'rous to his Own.
Their King is Dead, and they have made an Heir,
Him to Succeed, which like the Crane may prove
Rav'nous, Destructive, wheresoe'er he move:
The Callow Bird, weak and not Fledg'd by Age,
As yet, himself expresses little Rage;
But has to Grandsire Crane given the Pow'r
To Rule at Will; to Save, or to Devour:
And fam'd throughout the World, his temper's known,
Cruel to Strangers, Barb'rous to his Own.
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