Aesop at Paris his letters and fables. Translated from the original French [by Edward Ward] |
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The Dog and Shadow.
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 | Aesop at Paris |  |
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The Dog and Shadow.
A FABLE.
A dog
(whose rav'nous Stomach made him roam,
Unsatisfy'd with what he had at home)
Pilfer'd abroad what Bounty did not grant,
To gratify his Av'rice, not his Want:
Once on a time, when Plenty Crown'd the Board,
With all the Gusts Variety afford,
He Bones receiv'd well Flesh'd, like Navy-Fees,
Enough the greedy Cerberus to please:
But more his Rav'nous Humour did require,
To satisfie his Gluttonous desire.
So from his careless Neighbours he would Steal,
Or from the Weak, by Force would take a Meal;
Which happen'd once to be a piece of Meat,
A Luscious Bit; design'd for future Treat;
With which, in haste, he plung'd the neighb'ring Flood,
To keep possession of his late stol'n Food.
But as he swam, the mimick Shade deceiv'd
Unreasoning Thought, that Substance it believ'd.
Strong was Desire the fancy'd Piece to gain;
So swiftly mov'd his Legs, but all in vain:
At equal distance he the Shade pursu'd,
Seem'd tyred now, and then the Chase renew'd.
The last effort to gain his end he made,
And gaping jumpt to snap the flitting shade:
His Mouth once open, Meat and Shade were lost,
His Substance gone, his future Hopes were crost.
Then he his Greedy Temper 'gan to Blame,
That equally had caus'd his Want and Shame.
Unsatisfy'd with what he had at home)
Pilfer'd abroad what Bounty did not grant,
To gratify his Av'rice, not his Want:
Once on a time, when Plenty Crown'd the Board,
With all the Gusts Variety afford,
He Bones receiv'd well Flesh'd, like Navy-Fees,
Enough the greedy Cerberus to please:
But more his Rav'nous Humour did require,
To satisfie his Gluttonous desire.
So from his careless Neighbours he would Steal,
Or from the Weak, by Force would take a Meal;
Which happen'd once to be a piece of Meat,
A Luscious Bit; design'd for future Treat;
With which, in haste, he plung'd the neighb'ring Flood,
To keep possession of his late stol'n Food.
But as he swam, the mimick Shade deceiv'd
Unreasoning Thought, that Substance it believ'd.
Strong was Desire the fancy'd Piece to gain;
So swiftly mov'd his Legs, but all in vain:
At equal distance he the Shade pursu'd,
Seem'd tyred now, and then the Chase renew'd.
The last effort to gain his end he made,
And gaping jumpt to snap the flitting shade:
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His Substance gone, his future Hopes were crost.
Then he his Greedy Temper 'gan to Blame,
That equally had caus'd his Want and Shame.
Reflection.
A Neighb'ring Monarch, unto whom kind HeavenHas mighty Treasures, and vast Kingdoms given,
Blest with long Life, which he in Health Enjoys,
And sees a long Posterity of Boys;
Yet not Content, his Av'rice makes him Roam,
(Stol'n Goods are Sweet, tho' better are at home)
In quest of Countries that Unguarded lie,
Depending upon League's Security;
Or else in search for those whose humble Fate,
Must be crush'd down beneath his Army's Weight.
Some such h'has found, and took them as his own;
From Fraud or Force his Titles most are grown;
His Mind, insatiate still, does Covet more;
His Hands, tho' full, grasp at a larger Store;
No sooner does the shadow of a Crown,
Or Glimps of Hope to fill an empty Throne,
Appear, but all his Art and Force he'll bend,
To gain that Crown, that empty Throne t'ascend.
But may his Fancy, like the Dogs, be Crost,
His Hopes, and his Possession quite be Lost:
And may that Monarch whilst he Covets more,
Be Dog-like serv'd, lose what he'd Stole before.
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