Poems on Several Occasions In Two Volumes. By Mr. Joseph Mitchell |
 |
| I. |
|
| I. |
|
| I. |
| II. |
TO A Right Honourable Grumbletonian. |
 | Poems on Several Occasions |  |
299
TO A Right Honourable Grumbletonian.
Whilom, a Fox, a-cross a crystal Stream
Was swimming, and, when to the Bank he came,
Found it too steep and slippery to ascend.
He climb'd, he leap'd, but could not gain his End:
Nor this the whole Misfortune of his Life—
For, labouring thus with uneffectual Strife,
Behold a hideous Form of bloody Flies,
Settling, attack'd and stung his Ears and Eyes.
An Hedg-hog, standing near the fatal Place,
Observ'd and pity'd Reynard's doleful Case.
“Brother, if I not help you out with Ease,
“At least, these Insects that molest and teaze,
“Shall by some Ways and Means of mine retire—.
I thank you, Sir, 'tis more than I require.
Let my good Neighbours, quarter'd here, alone:
Their Bellies fill'd, they'll Volunteer be gone:
But, were they driven by Violence away,
Another Swarm, more terrible than they,
Wou'd take their Places, with an Onset rude,
And drain my Body of each Drop of Blood.
Was swimming, and, when to the Bank he came,
Found it too steep and slippery to ascend.
He climb'd, he leap'd, but could not gain his End:
Nor this the whole Misfortune of his Life—
For, labouring thus with uneffectual Strife,
Behold a hideous Form of bloody Flies,
Settling, attack'd and stung his Ears and Eyes.
300
Observ'd and pity'd Reynard's doleful Case.
“Brother, if I not help you out with Ease,
“At least, these Insects that molest and teaze,
“Shall by some Ways and Means of mine retire—.
I thank you, Sir, 'tis more than I require.
Let my good Neighbours, quarter'd here, alone:
Their Bellies fill'd, they'll Volunteer be gone:
But, were they driven by Violence away,
Another Swarm, more terrible than they,
Wou'd take their Places, with an Onset rude,
And drain my Body of each Drop of Blood.
Thus, when the Samians held a close Debate,
And wou'd depose their Minister of State,
Sage Æsop spoke, (as Aristotle says)
And sav'd the mighty W---e of those Days.
And wou'd depose their Minister of State,
Sage Æsop spoke, (as Aristotle says)
And sav'd the mighty W---e of those Days.
301
“Ye Men of Samos, like the Fox, be wise,
“Who us'd no Violence to the bloody Flies.
“Your Demagogue for Avarice is try'd—
“That He's prodigious rich is not deny'd.
“Now, think, when he has got sufficient Store,
“He'll have no Need to plunder you for more.
“But, if ye shou'd condemn the Man to die,
“Some needy Person will of course supply
“His envied Place; and, in his Turn, create,
“By Ways and Means, another such Estate.
“Who us'd no Violence to the bloody Flies.
“Your Demagogue for Avarice is try'd—
“That He's prodigious rich is not deny'd.
“Now, think, when he has got sufficient Store,
“He'll have no Need to plunder you for more.
“But, if ye shou'd condemn the Man to die,
“Some needy Person will of course supply
“His envied Place; and, in his Turn, create,
“By Ways and Means, another such Estate.
O P--- this important Fable weigh,
Apply the Moral, and impartial say,
You'd yet be W---'s Friend, so you might squeeze
Our Remainder of Property, with Ease.
Apply the Moral, and impartial say,
You'd yet be W---'s Friend, so you might squeeze
Our Remainder of Property, with Ease.
302
But the instructed Britons, cautious grown,
Will trust no craving Candidates unknown.
Our present Flies will soon have suckt their Fill,
Then Gratis serve, and keep their Places still.
Will trust no craving Candidates unknown.
Our present Flies will soon have suckt their Fill,
Then Gratis serve, and keep their Places still.
| Poems on Several Occasions | |