Aesop at Paris his letters and fables. Translated from the original French [by Edward Ward] |
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The Doves and Kite:
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 | Aesop at Paris |  |
7
The Doves and Kite:
A FABLE.
After
long War between the Doves and Kite,
Wherein the Doves were Conquer'd by his Might,
And lost a pretious Life at ev'ry Fight;
A Peace concluded was; and to secure,
That Peace 'twixt Kite and Doves might still endure;
They chose his Young Grand-Chick to be their King,
Hoping to rest secure beneath his Wing;
Judging Relation mightily would move
The Grandsire Kite with them to Live in Love.
But still the Rav'nous Nature of the Bird,
To Doves a Foe, would little Peace afford;
Under Pretence of acting for his Young,
He had a Plausible Pretence for Wrong;
Acted what e'er he Pleas'd, King gave Consent,
Tho' kill'd his Subject Doves in Merriment:
Too late alas, the Doves did then Complain,
A growing Kite, and Grandsire Kite they'd ta'en.
Wherein the Doves were Conquer'd by his Might,
And lost a pretious Life at ev'ry Fight;
A Peace concluded was; and to secure,
That Peace 'twixt Kite and Doves might still endure;
They chose his Young Grand-Chick to be their King,
Hoping to rest secure beneath his Wing;
Judging Relation mightily would move
The Grandsire Kite with them to Live in Love.
8
To Doves a Foe, would little Peace afford;
Under Pretence of acting for his Young,
He had a Plausible Pretence for Wrong;
Acted what e'er he Pleas'd, King gave Consent,
Tho' kill'd his Subject Doves in Merriment:
Too late alas, the Doves did then Complain,
A growing Kite, and Grandsire Kite they'd ta'en.
Reflection.
Two Kingdoms have for Years Contesting been,And ev'ry Summer shown a Bloody Scene;
Spain, altho' help'd by Neighbours, did Decrease;
But farther lost it self, by making Peace;
Since it hath ta'en a Grandson for its King,
Who leaves the Grandsire all the managing
Of his Tame Subjects, who for fear Obey;
So like the Kite, he'll absolutely sway.
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