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33

FAB. XIII. The Fox and Flies.

As crafty Reynard strove to Swim,
The torrent of a Rapid Stream,
To gain the farther side:
Before the middle Space was past,
A whirling Eddy caught him fast
And drove him with the Tide.
With vain Efforts and Strugling spent,
Half drown'd, yet forc'd to be content,
Poor Ren a Soaking lay:
Till some kind Ebb shou'd set him free,
Or chance restore that Liberty,
The Waves had took away.
A Swarm of half-starv'd hagger'd Flies,
With Fury seize the floating Prize,
By raging Hunger led:
With many a Curse and bitter Groan,
He shook his Sides, and wisht them gone,
Whilst plenteously they Fed.

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A Hedghog saw his evil Plight,
Touch'd with Compassion at the sight,
Quoth he to show I'm Civil:
I'll brush those Swigging Dogs away,
That on thy Blood remorseless Prey
And send them to the Devil.
No courteous Sir, the Fox reply'd,
Let them infest, and gore my Hide,
With their insatiate Thirst:
Since I such fatal Wounds sustain,
'Twill yield some Pleasure midst the Pain,
To see the Bloodhounds burst.

The MORAL.

Translated from the Fam'd Nostradamus's Prophecies. Beginning at

Le sang du Juste à Londres fera faute
Brusser par feu, &c.

Thus guilty Brittain to her Thames complains
With Royal Blood defil'd, O cleanse my Stains!
Whence Plagues arise! whence dire Contagions come!
And Flames that my Augustas Pride consume!

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In vain saith Thames, the Regicidal Breed
Will swarm again, by them thy Land shall bleed:
Extremest Curse! but so just Heaven decreed!
Republicans shall Brittains Treasures drein,
Betray her Monarch and her Church prophane!
Till gorg'd with Spoils, with Blood the Leeches burst,
Or Ty---n add the second to the first.