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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| XLI. | FABLE XLI. The Lion's Choice: |
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 | Truth in Fiction |  |
59
FABLE XLI. The Lion's Choice:
Or, A Friend loves at all times.
The
Lion, who was vers'd in State-Affairs,
And knew how Princes best support their Cares;
Order'd his Subjects shou'd at Court attend,
That from the Herds he might select a Friend;
By whom, when Bus'ness or Diversion pleas'd,
He might with Counsel, or Delight, be eas'd:
A Friend, to whom he might his Heart disclose,
And fear no false Discov'ries to his Foes:
A Friend, who wou'd in all his Fortunes share;
In Peace, Advise, and Fight for him in War.
The Beasts, who all to that high Rank aspir'd,
(For Princes Favourites are still admir'd)
Paid glad Obedience to their King's Decree;
Each urg'd, by hope to be the happy He.
And knew how Princes best support their Cares;
Order'd his Subjects shou'd at Court attend,
That from the Herds he might select a Friend;
By whom, when Bus'ness or Diversion pleas'd,
He might with Counsel, or Delight, be eas'd:
A Friend, to whom he might his Heart disclose,
And fear no false Discov'ries to his Foes:
A Friend, who wou'd in all his Fortunes share;
In Peace, Advise, and Fight for him in War.
The Beasts, who all to that high Rank aspir'd,
(For Princes Favourites are still admir'd)
Paid glad Obedience to their King's Decree;
Each urg'd, by hope to be the happy He.
Their Sov'reign view'd the vast Assembly round;
And what he sought, by piercing Judgment, found:
He found what best wou'd answer his Design;
And, to their great Amazement, chose a Swine.
Then, to declare what thus his Thoughts enclin'd,
This weighty Reason for his Choice assign'd:
This faithful Creature to his Friends adheres
Tho' Life and Fortune run all Risques with theirs.
And what he sought, by piercing Judgment, found:
He found what best wou'd answer his Design;
And, to their great Amazement, chose a Swine.
Then, to declare what thus his Thoughts enclin'd,
This weighty Reason for his Choice assign'd:
This faithful Creature to his Friends adheres
Tho' Life and Fortune run all Risques with theirs.
60
The MORAL.
‘Men may safe Friendship easily pretend;‘But Times of Danger, only try a Friend:
‘No happy Man is sure he is belov'd,
‘Because his Creatures cannot then be prov'd.
‘They who dare Faith (when hazardous) express,
‘And Wretches, on whom Fortune frowns, caress;
‘Give ample Proof their Friendship is not cold;
‘And are deserv'dly valu'd more than Gold.
| Truth in Fiction | |