Kent inv.

P.Fourdrinier soul.

FABLE XXXIII.

The COURTIER and PROTEUS.

W

Hene'er a courtier's out of place,

The country shelters his disgrace;

Where, doom'd to exercife and health,
His house and gardens own his wealth.

He builds new schemes, in hope to gain

The plunder of another reign;

Like Philip's fon would fain be doing,
And fighs for other realms to ruin.

As one of these (without his wand) Penfive, along the winding strand Employ'd the folitary hour

In projects to regain his power;

The waves in spreading circles ran,

Proteus arose, and thus began.

Came you from court? For in your mein

A felf-important air is seen.

He frankly own'd his friends had trick'd him,

And how he fell his party's victim.

Know, fays the God, by matchlefs skill

I change to ev'ry shape at will;

But

But yet, I'm told, at court you fee

Those who presume to rival me.

Thus faid. A fņake, with hideous trail,

Proteus extends his fcaly mail.

Know, fays the Man, though proud in place,

All courtiers are of reptile race.

Like

you, they take that dreadful form,

Bask in the fun, and fly the storm

With malice hifs, with envy glote,
And for convenience change their coat,
With new-got luftre rear their head,
Though on a dunghill born and bred.
Sudden the God a lyon stands,

He shakes his mane, he spurns the fands;
Now a fierce lynx, with fiery glare,
A wolf, an ass, a fox, a bear.

Had I ne'er liv'd at court, he cries,
Such transformation might surprise ;
K 3

But

But there, in quest of daily game,

Each able courtier a&s the fame.

Wolves, lyons, lynxes, while in place,

Their friends and fellows are their chace;

They play the bear's and fox's

part,

Now rob by force, now steal with art;

They fometimes in the fenate bray;

Or, chang'd again to beasts of prey,
Down from the lyon to the ape,
Practise the frauds of ev'ry shape.

So faid. Upon the God he flies,

In cords the struggling captive tyes.

Now, Proteus, now (to truth compell'd) Speak, and confess thy art excell'd.

Use strength, surprise, or what you will,

The courtier finds evafion ftill;

Not to be bound by any tyes,

And never forc'd to leave his lyes.

T.Wootton inv.

P.Fourdrinursad.

TH

FABLE XXXIV.

The MASTIFFS.

HOSE, who in quarrels interpose,
Must often wipe a bloody nose.

A Mastiff, of true English blood, Lov'd fighting better than his food,