FABLE XXII. The Farmer and Landlord:
Or, Avarice Disappointed.
A grateful
Farmer, in his Rented Ground,
A Tree, well laden with choice Apples, found:
He pull'd the Fruit, and, big with pleasing Thought,
The Present to his City Landlord brought.
Citt found the Apples of a gen'rous Kind,
And at his Tenant's Benefit-repin'd:
Then Order'd, That the Tree he so approv'd,
Shou'd to his City Orchard be remov'd.
The Tree, grown old, did not the Soil abide,
But, when transplanted, wither'd soon, and dy'd.
The Landlord, at this Disappointment, griev'd,
And own'd, his Folly had his Hopes deceiv'd:
It was enough, (had he his Int'rest known)
To eat the Fruit, and let the Tree alone.
The MORAL.
‘Thus Men, when blinded by their Avarice,
‘Believe themselves, in their vain Projects, wise:
‘But such Projectors soon their Folly find,
‘Impov'rish'd by the Means for Wealth design'd.
‘But he, who wisely limits his Desires,
‘Seeks what is fit, and, what he seeks, acquires.
