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 |  |
FABLE XXXVII. The Boy and Fortune.
Or, Self do, Self have.
A careless Boy, who wou'd no Bus'ness mind,
And more to Sleep, than Labour, was enclin'd,
Close on the Brink of an impetuous Stream
Securely slept, nor did of Hazards dream:
'Till Fortune, coming timely, to prevent
Ris Ruin, which she saw was imminent,
Rouz'd him from Sleep, which might have prov'd his last;
And thus rebuk'd him for Incaution past:
Young Man, you on a dang'rous Bed was plac'd,
Which might have cost your Life, and me disgrac'd:
Had you been drown'd, Men wou'd of me complain,
And not your Negligence, but mine, arraign:
The Inquest then, with one Consent and Breath,
Wou'd find me only guilty of your Death:
Tho', were a Melius Inquirendo sought,
Felo de se, shou'd be the Verdict brought.
And more to Sleep, than Labour, was enclin'd,
Close on the Brink of an impetuous Stream
Securely slept, nor did of Hazards dream:
'Till Fortune, coming timely, to prevent
Ris Ruin, which she saw was imminent,
Rouz'd him from Sleep, which might have prov'd his last;
And thus rebuk'd him for Incaution past:
Young Man, you on a dang'rous Bed was plac'd,
Which might have cost your Life, and me disgrac'd:
Had you been drown'd, Men wou'd of me complain,
And not your Negligence, but mine, arraign:
The Inquest then, with one Consent and Breath,
Wou'd find me only guilty of your Death:
Tho', were a Melius Inquirendo sought,
Felo de se, shou'd be the Verdict brought.
54
The MORAL.
‘Thus, by the fatal Courses they pursue,‘Unhappy Mortals oft' themselves undo:
‘But, while they suffer, (to avoid the Shame)
‘Pretend another Cause, and Fortune blame.
‘Their Indiscretion is their Overthrow,
‘And to themselves they each Miscarriage owe:
‘But he who manages with prudent Skill,
‘Leads Fortune bound, and guides her as he will.
| Truth in Fiction | |