They only speak and write, (God blefs us!)
Are these their Methods to redress us?
But ARCHON is not to be fhamm'd-

30

He cheat the Nation? He be damn'd!

A Speech fo wondrous warm and wife Rais'd Acclamations to the Skies;

When thus, affuming proper State,

35

Went on the worthy Candidate.

Has not each Member Right inherent T'impeach this Minister Vicegerent?

I'll get the hearty Cocks together,

And do it.-Zounds! who fears the Weather? 40 In Dignity he's but my Brother:

Shall one Knight tremble at another?

Shall I, my Countrymen, give Quarter,

At the mere Aspect of his Garter?

No; truft my Honour for th' Impeachment; 45 I'll ftand to that: No Law reach me in't,

Ver. 40, Zounds! who fears the Weather] A Phrase pretty common in the Mouths of fome People, efpecially in the Country, when they would give a great Idea of their Bravery and Refolution on any particular Occafion.

The Glory of the House fhall center

(Believe me!) on the Hour I enter!

The Knight upon these Terms elected, Was the prodigious Work effected?

Was ARCHON in the House a Week,

And did not poor Sir ROBERT squeek?
Quite the Reverse: Our worthy Member
Sits there till APRIL, from DECEMBER;
Deals out his Ayes and Noes by Dozens;
Nor cares who's cozen'd, or who cozens.
Does this important Change alarm ye?
His Son's commiffion'd in the Army:
Himself advance'd for public Spirit.-
Can fuch a Miniftry want Merit?

Prorogu'd our Liberty-Protectors,

Home goes the Knight to his Electors.

Think how the Country throng to meet him!
Think with what Compliments they greet him!

30

55

60

·Ver. 65. Sin Jo HN.] This Name is ufed preferably to any other, for no other Reafon but because the Numbers require› a monofyllable Word. It was originally Sir THOMAs for a Reafon of the fame Kind.

But pray Sir JOHN (quoth downright DANIEL) 65

Why go Things on in their old Channel?

And why that Minister employ'd yet?

Alas! my Friends, who could avoid it?
Freely I've done the most I can do:
But, Sirs, what can a fingle Man do?

You know, 'tis dangerous to feem busy :
Have Patience Times will come to please ye.
WHETHER the Knight was Knave or Fool,

This Tale affords one Golden Rule:

70

(Hear BRITONS, what this Tale affords)

75

"Confult Mens Interefts, not their Words."

But verbal Mortgages are Wind:

And sweetest Air will stink at last,

If once we backwards blow the Blaft.

The DOG, the TRAVELLER, and Æsop.

EWARDED Vice makes others vicious;

REMA guider the

And Folly guides the Superstitious.

A Dog was curft; a Man came by;
Forth leapt the Cur, and feiz'd his Thigh:
The Blood gufh'd out; the Trav❜ller stopt;
Took Bread, and as it flow'd he sopt;
Then threw the Whelp the fanguine Meal;
Inform'd that Sympathy would heal.

Wife ESOP faw the foolish Deed.
Tis well you've but one Dog to feed,
(Says he :) A Kennel of thofe Creatures,
Already Savage in their Natures,
So well rewarded when they bite,
Would eat their Benefactor quite.

From PHADRUS, Lib. ii, Fab. 3.

The

The Fox and the DRAGON:

A

A FABLE. *

FOX would unmolested sleep,

And plann'd a Cave fecure and deep:

Refolv'd to leave a World fo vain,
He dug, and din'd, and dug again :
Refolv'd to fhun the Sight of Men,
He reach'd at laft a Dragon's Den.

This Dragon (fprung from that of old,
Which kept th' HESPERIAN Sifters Gold)
O'er Heaps of Treasure brooding fate,

And dar'd the Thieves to tempt their Fate.

10

*From PHÆDRUS, Lib. iv. Fab. 19. The Defign of this Fable, exprefs'd in the Motto ufually prefix'd to the Original, is to thew" that the covetous Man is only the Guardian, not the Poffeffor, of his Riches."

Ver. 7, 8. This Dragon (Sprung from that of old, Which kept the HESPERIAN Sifters Gold.)] The HESPERIDES were the Daughcrs of HESPERUS, or, according to others, of ATLAS,