Aesop at Paris his letters and fables. Translated from the original French [by Edward Ward] |
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A Fowler and Black-Bird.
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 | Aesop at Paris |  |
33
A Fowler and Black-Bird.
A FABLE.
Near
a Young Copse, his Nett a Fowler spread,
And the same Place with Chaff had covered;
To whom a Black-Bird said, What is't you do?
And what's the reason you Walk to and fro?
The Fowler told him, In that spacious Field,
He Measures took a City for to Build;
And then retir'd to watch the silly Bird,
Who thought Man scorn'd to Falsify his Word;
Flew down to View the Place, or else to Feed,
But by the Net his Liberty's Betray'd.
And the same Place with Chaff had covered;
To whom a Black-Bird said, What is't you do?
And what's the reason you Walk to and fro?
The Fowler told him, In that spacious Field,
He Measures took a City for to Build;
And then retir'd to watch the silly Bird,
Who thought Man scorn'd to Falsify his Word;
Flew down to View the Place, or else to Feed,
But by the Net his Liberty's Betray'd.
Reflection.
When Men a mighty Mischief have in hand,As gloss for Roguery, Goodness they pretend.
Under pretence of saving of a Town,
A Neighb'ring Prince, with Forces of his own,
Will take Possession for a Neighb'ring Crown;
But Rules with Pow'r the much Mistaken Men,
And seldom grants their Liberty again.
Let Foes in Power Promise what they will
That kindly looks, Self must be Guarded still.
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