Aesop at Paris his letters and fables. Translated from the original French [by Edward Ward] |
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The Oak and the Elm.
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 | Aesop at Paris |  |
20
The Oak and the Elm.
A FABLE.
An
Elm, a Fav'rite to a Royal Oak,
Thought by Pernitious Council, to provoke
His Prince to Ire against some humble Trees,
That round about him stood, as Guards to Majestie;
Advis'd the Extirpation of those Friends,
That he without Controul might gain his ends,
And often importun'd the Prudent Prince,
That he those Shrubs would far remove from thence.
Many forc'd Arguments he us'd in Vain;
Of friv'lous Acts, as mighty Crimes, Complain;
But yet his Suit he never could obtain.
The Oak concern'd his Stories still to hear,
No longer could the Sycophant forbear;
But told him plainly, That he did advise,
To move his Friends, that to his Enemies
He Naked and Defenceless might appear,
And the whole shock of ev'ry blast might bear:
Threat'ned Destruction, if again he mov'd
Ought to the prejudice of those he Lov'd.
Thus was the Guilty Elm from favour thrown,
And Friends amongst the Shrubs he could find none.
Thought by Pernitious Council, to provoke
His Prince to Ire against some humble Trees,
That round about him stood, as Guards to Majestie;
Advis'd the Extirpation of those Friends,
That he without Controul might gain his ends,
And often importun'd the Prudent Prince,
That he those Shrubs would far remove from thence.
Many forc'd Arguments he us'd in Vain;
Of friv'lous Acts, as mighty Crimes, Complain;
But yet his Suit he never could obtain.
The Oak concern'd his Stories still to hear,
No longer could the Sycophant forbear;
But told him plainly, That he did advise,
To move his Friends, that to his Enemies
He Naked and Defenceless might appear,
And the whole shock of ev'ry blast might bear:
Threat'ned Destruction, if again he mov'd
Ought to the prejudice of those he Lov'd.
Thus was the Guilty Elm from favour thrown,
And Friends amongst the Shrubs he could find none.
21
Reflection.
Flatt'ry's the Seed from which most Fav'rites spring,Some few from worth their Pedigree do bring;
But those like useful Props support a State,
And t'other's Vices do it Ruinate;
Both, by their Counsels, Act their Country's Fate.
Since what the Fav'rites say, is soon believ'd,
By them are Kings the easiest Deceiv'd;
The Deeds of all, just as they Please, they Paint;
They make a Man a Devil, or a Saint:
Say, Vices Vertues are; what's Good call Bad,
The stamp for either's by the Fav'rite made.
From Presence of a King, they'd oft remove
All Men of Merit, that they do not Love:
But Prudent Princes question well, and try
Of each Report, the Cause and Verity,
Before they Judgment Pass, least they should hear
A diff'rent Tale, from what did first appear;
If by a false Report at Men they Aim,
Prudent, and Loyal, of Unspotted Fame:
A Prince to such ought his Displeasure shew,
And give the Villains Death, if't be their due.
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