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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| XLIX. | FABLE XLIX. The Fox and Cock: |
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 | Truth in Fiction |  |
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FABLE XLIX. The Fox and Cock:
Or, The Shammer shamm'd.
A hungry
Fox, in great distress for Food,
Came prowling where a lonely Cottage stood;
And on the Branches of its shelt'ring Trees,
A Cock, at roost among his Misses, sees:
With friendly Tone he call'd to Chanticleer,
And ask'd the reason he was mounted there,
As if he was a Stranger to the Joy,
That pleas'd all Hearts, and did all Tongues employ.
The Cock reply'd, He liv'd remote from Court,
And rarely heard, or listen'd to, Report;
But if he ought of Moment cou'd impart,
He wou'd give ear to that, with all his heart.
Came prowling where a lonely Cottage stood;
And on the Branches of its shelt'ring Trees,
A Cock, at roost among his Misses, sees:
With friendly Tone he call'd to Chanticleer,
And ask'd the reason he was mounted there,
As if he was a Stranger to the Joy,
That pleas'd all Hearts, and did all Tongues employ.
The Cock reply'd, He liv'd remote from Court,
And rarely heard, or listen'd to, Report;
But if he ought of Moment cou'd impart,
He wou'd give ear to that, with all his heart.
Then answer'd Reynard; Know, my noble Friend,
All Wrong and Violence are at an end:
At Court, a great Assembly has been held
Of all the sage Free-holders of the Field;
Who have decree'd, Hostilities shall cease,
And end in gen'ral Amnesty and Peace:
Now ev'n the Weakest may unguarded go,
And fear no Danger, for they have no Foe.
Pleas'd with the News, I came express away,
To celebrate, with you, this joyful Day.
All Wrong and Violence are at an end:
At Court, a great Assembly has been held
Of all the sage Free-holders of the Field;
Who have decree'd, Hostilities shall cease,
And end in gen'ral Amnesty and Peace:
Now ev'n the Weakest may unguarded go,
And fear no Danger, for they have no Foe.
Pleas'd with the News, I came express away,
To celebrate, with you, this joyful Day.
The Cock, too wise to be with Words deceiv'd,
Knew Reynard was too false to be believ'd:
But, not to seem distrustful or surpriz'd,
With Complaisance his Jealousy disguiz'd;
And said, My Friend, you happy Tidings bring;
This Day will make us, O be joyful, sing:
Then rais'd his Crest, as if he meant to Crow;
But some Concern, that spoil'd his Note, did show.
Whereat, the Fox demanding what he saw;
Two Hounds, said he, that tow'rds this Mansion draw:
With open Mouths, and eager Speed they move;
Sure, the same Message do's their Haste improve.
Knew Reynard was too false to be believ'd:
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With Complaisance his Jealousy disguiz'd;
And said, My Friend, you happy Tidings bring;
This Day will make us, O be joyful, sing:
Then rais'd his Crest, as if he meant to Crow;
But some Concern, that spoil'd his Note, did show.
Whereat, the Fox demanding what he saw;
Two Hounds, said he, that tow'rds this Mansion draw:
With open Mouths, and eager Speed they move;
Sure, the same Message do's their Haste improve.
The Fox alarm'd, and conscious of his Cheat,
Began to think it time for a Retreat;
And said, Good Friend, Adieu; I dare not stay;
These plaguy Currs have frighted me away.
How! said the Cock; Have you forgot the Peace?
Are not Hostilities decree'd to cease?
'Tis true, said Reynard; nor do I forget,
But fear these Teazers have not heard it yet.
Began to think it time for a Retreat;
And said, Good Friend, Adieu; I dare not stay;
These plaguy Currs have frighted me away.
How! said the Cock; Have you forgot the Peace?
Are not Hostilities decree'd to cease?
'Tis true, said Reynard; nor do I forget,
But fear these Teazers have not heard it yet.
The MORAL.
‘Impostors thus (who others wou'd deceive)‘Suspected in the false Accounts they give,
‘Are justly by a Counter-plot betray'd,
‘And fall themselves into the Snares they laid.
| Truth in Fiction | |