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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| XI. | FABLE XI. The Fox and Goat.
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 | Truth in Fiction |  |
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FABLE XI. The Fox and Goat.
Too late to Repent.
By equal Thirst, led to pursue one End,
A Fox and Goat into a Well descend;
Nor was the Means for their Return their Care,
'Till they had guzzl'd all their Guts cou'd bear:
But then the pensive Goat, with knotted Brow,
Shew'd he wou'd fain be gone, but knew not how.
A Fox and Goat into a Well descend;
Nor was the Means for their Return their Care,
'Till they had guzzl'd all their Guts cou'd bear:
But then the pensive Goat, with knotted Brow,
Shew'd he wou'd fain be gone, but knew not how.
Reynard, who saw his rev'rend Friend dismay'd,
Rais'd his sunk Spirits, with this promis'd Aid:
Chear up, my Heart, I have contriv'd a Way,
That we no longer in this Pond shall stay;
Erect your self, while I your Horns bestride,
Make my Escape, and then for your's provide.
The Goat obey'd, and soon the subtle Fox
Leaps out, and his forlorn Deliv'rer mocks.
Rais'd his sunk Spirits, with this promis'd Aid:
Chear up, my Heart, I have contriv'd a Way,
That we no longer in this Pond shall stay;
Erect your self, while I your Horns bestride,
Make my Escape, and then for your's provide.
The Goat obey'd, and soon the subtle Fox
Leaps out, and his forlorn Deliv'rer mocks.
This scurvy Usage made the Goat complain,
And tax his Breach of Faith, but all in vain;
Reynard no Pity for his Grief express'd,
But rally'd him with this Sarcastick Jest:
Were but your Prudence equal to your Beard,
You had your Course by wiser Methods steer'd;
Your Gravity wou'd first the Means have known
How to get up, before you ventur'd down.
And tax his Breach of Faith, but all in vain;
Reynard no Pity for his Grief express'd,
But rally'd him with this Sarcastick Jest:
Were but your Prudence equal to your Beard,
You had your Course by wiser Methods steer'd;
Your Gravity wou'd first the Means have known
How to get up, before you ventur'd down.
The MORAL.
‘Wise Men, on any Enterprize intent,‘Still bear a due Regard to the Event:
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‘There vain Efforts in Shame and Sorrow end.
‘Thus Fools, by rash Endeavours, urge their Fate,
‘And, what they act too soon, repent too late.
| Truth in Fiction | |