Then with his neighbours one so free
At all times will connive at me.'

The Hawk had due distinction shown,
For parts and talents like his own.

Thousands of hireling Cocks attend him,
As blustering bullies to defend him.
At once the Ravens were discarded,
And Magpies with their posts rewarded.
'Those fowls of omen I detest,

That pry into another's nest.

State lies must lose all good intent,
For they foresee and croak the' event.
My friends ne'er think, but talk by rote,
Speak what they're taught, and so to vote.
When rogues like these (a Sparrow cries)
To honours and employments rise,

Į court no favour, ask no place,
From such preferment is disgrace.
Within my thatch'd retreat I find

(What these ne'er feel) true peace of mind,'

THE BABOON AND THE POULTRY.

TO A LEVEE-HUNTER.

WE frequently misplace esteem,

By judging men by what they seem.

To birth, wealth, pow'r, we should allow
Precedence, and our lowest bow:

In that is due distinction shown;
Esteem is Virtue's right alone.

With partial eye we're apt to see
The man of noble pedigree:

We're prepossest my Lord inherits,
In some degree, his grandsire's merits;
For those we find upon record,

But find him nothing but my Lord.
When we, with superficial view,
Gaze on the rich, we're dazzled too.
We know that wealth, well understood,
Hath frequent pow'r of doing good,
Then fancy that the thing is done,
As if the pow'r and will were one.
Thus oft the cheated crowd adore
The thriving knaves that keep 'em poor.
The cringing train of pow'r survey;
What creatures are so low as they!
With what obsequiousness they bend!
To what vile actions condescend!
Their rise is on their meanness built,
And flattery is their smallest guilt.
What homage, reverence, adoration,
In every age, in every nation,
Have sycophants to power address'd!
No matter, who the power possess'd.
Let ministers be what they will,
You find their levees always fill:

Ev'n those who have perplex'd a state,
Whose actions claim contempt and hate,
Had wretches to applaud their schemes,
Though more absurd than madmen's dreams.
When barbarous Moloch was invok'd,
The blood of infants only smok'd!
But here (unless all History lies)

Whole realms have been a sacrifice.

Look through all courts: 'tis power we find The general idol of mankind;

There worshipp'd under every shape:
Alike the lion, fox, and ape,
Are follow'd by time-serving slaves,
Rich prostitutes and needy knaves.
Who then shall glory in his post?
How frail his pride, how vain his boast!
The followers of his prosperous hour
Are as unstable as his power.

Power, by the breath of Flattery nurst,
The more it swells is nearer burst.
The bubble breaks, the gewgaw ends,
And in a dirty tear descends.

Once on a time an ancient maid,
By wishes and by time decay'd,
To cure the pangs of restless thought,
In birds and beasts amusement sought:
Dogs, parrots, apes, her hours employ'd;
With these alone she talk'd and toy'd.
A huge Baboon her fancy took,
(Almost a man in size and look)
He finger'd every thing he found,
And mimic'd all the servants round;
Then, too, his parts and ready wit
Show'd him for every business fit.
With all these talents 'twas but just
That Pug should hold a place of trust;
So to her favourite was assign'd
The charge of all her feather'd kind.
"Twas his to tend 'em eve and morn,
And portion out their daily corn.

Behold him now, with haughty stride,

Assume a ministerial pride.

The morning rose. In hope of picking,

Swans, turkeys, peacocks, ducks, and chicken,

Fowls of all ranks surround his hut,
To worship his important strut.
The minister appears. The crowd,
Now here, now there, obsequious bow'd.
This prais'd his parts, and that his face,
T' other his dignity in place.
From bill to bill the flattery ran:
He hears and bears it like a man;
For when we flatter Self-conceit,
We but his sentiments repeat.

If we're too scrupulously just,
What profit's in a place of trust?
The common practice of the great
Is to secure a snug retreat:
So Pug began to turn his brain
(Like other folks in place) on gain.
An apple-woman's stall was near,
Well stock'd with fruits through all the year;
Here every day he cramm'd his guts,
Hence were his hoards of pears and nuts;
For 'twas agreed (in way of trade)
His payments should in corn be made.
The stock of grain was quickly spent,
And no account which way it went:
Then, too, the Poultry's starv'd condition
Caus'd speculations of suspicion.

The facts were prov'd beyond dispute;
Pug must refund his hoards of fruit;
And, though then minister in chief,
Was branded as a public thief.
Disgrac'd, despis'd, confin'd to chains,
He nothing but his pride retains.

A Goose pass'd by; he knew the face,
Seen every levee while in place.

'What, no respect! no reverence shown! How saucy are these creatures grown! Not two days since (says he) you bow'd The lowest of my fawning crowd.'

Proud fool! (replies the Goose) 'tis true Thy corn a fluttering levee drew; For that I join'd the hungry train, And sold thee flattery for thy grain : But then, as now, conceited Ape, We saw thee in thy proper shape.'

THE ANT IN OFFICE.

TO A FRIEND.

You tell me that you apprehend
My verse may touchy folks offend.
In prudence, too, you think my rhymes
Should never squint at courtiers' crimes;
For though nor this nor that is meant,
Can we another's thoughts prevent?
You ask me, if I ever knew
Court-chaplains thus the lawn pursue?
I meddle not with gown or lawn;
Poets, I grant, to rise must fawn:
They know great ears are over nice,
And never shock their patron's vice.
But I this hackney path despise ;
'Tis my ambition not to rise:
If I must prostitute the Muse,
The base conditions I refuse.

I neither flatter nor defame,

Yet own I would bring guilt to shame.