When the Crab views the pearly ftrands,
Or Tagus, bright with golden fands,
Or crawls befide the coral grove,
And hears the ocean roll above,
"Nature is too profufe, fays he,
Who gave all these to pleasure me !”
When bordering pinks and roses bloom,
And every garden breathes perfume;
When peaches glow with funny dyes,
Like Laura's cheek when blushes rife;
When with huge figs the branches bend,
When clusters from the vine depend;
The Snail looks round on flower and tree,
And cries, "All these were made for me !"
"What dignity's in human nature!"
Says Man, the moft conceited creature,
As from a cliff he caft his eye,
And view'd the fea and arched fky.

10

15

20

The fun was funk beneath the main ;

25

The moon and all the ftarry train

Hung the vaft vault of Heaven. The Man

His contemplation thus began:

. When I behold this glorious fhow, And the wide watery world below,

The fealy people of the main,

The beafts that range the wood or plain,
The wing'd inhabitants of air,

The day, the night, the various year;
And know all these by Heaven defign'd
As gifts to pleasure human-kind;

I 2

3

35

I cannot

I cannot raise my worth too high;
Of what vast consequence am I!”
"Not of th' importance you suppose,
Replies a Flea upon his nose.

Be humble, learn thyfelf to fcan;
Know, pride was never made for man.
'Tis vanity that fwells thy mind.

What! heaven and earth for thee defign'd!
For thee, made only for our need,

That more important Fleas night feed."

FABLE

L.

THE HARE AND MANY FRIENDS.

FRIE

'RIENDSHIP, like love, is but a name,
Unless to one you ftint the flame.
The child, whom many fathers fhare,
Hath feldom known a father's care.
"Tis thus in friendships; who depend
On many, rarely find a friend.

A Hare who, in a civil way,
Comply'd with every thing, like Gay,
Was known by all the beftial train
Who haunt the wood, or graze.the plain;

Her care was never to offend;
And every creature was her friend.

As forth the went at early dawn,
To tafte the dew-befprinkled lawn,
Behind the hears the hunter's cries,
And from the deep-mouth'd thunder flies.

She starts, the ftops, fhe pants for breath;
She hears the near advance of death;
She doubles, to mislead the hound,
And measures back her mazy round ;«
Till, fainting in the public way,
Half-dead with fear fhe gafping lay.
What transport in her bofom grew,
When firft the Horse appear'd in view!

66

Let me, fays fhe, your back afcend,
And owe my fafety to a friend.
You know my feet betray my flight:
To friendship every burden 's light."

The Horse reply'd, "Poor honest Pufs,
It grieves my heart to fee thee thus:
Be comforted, relief is near,

For all your friends are in the rear."

She next the ftately Bull implor'd; And thus repry'd the mighty lord :

20

25

30

"Since every beaft alive can tell

That I fincerely with you well,

35

Love calls me hence; a favourite Cow
Expects me near yon' barley-mow;

40

And, when a lady's in the cafe,

You know, all other things give place.
To leave you thus might feem unkind;

But fee, the Goat is juft behind."

The Goat remark'd "her pulfe was high,

45

Her languid head, her heavy eye:

My back, fays he, may do you harm ;
The Sheep's at hand, and wool is warm."

The Sheep was feeble, and complain'd

Said, he was flow, confefs'd his fears;

For hounds eat sheep as well as hares.”
She now the trotting Calf address'd,
To fave from death a friend diftrefs'd.
“Shall I, fays he, of tender age,.

In this important care engage
Older and abler pass'd you by;
How ftrong are those ! how weak am I'!
Should I prefume to bear you hence,

Thofe friends of mine may take offence..
Excufe me, then; you know my heart;
But dearest friends, alas! must part.
How fhall we all lament! Adieu;
For fee the hounds are juft in view.”

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60

END OF THE FIRST PART.

FABLES

FABLE S.

PART THE SECOND.

ADVERTISEMENT.

Thefe Fables were finished by Mr. GAY, and intended. for the prefs a fhort time before his death; when they were left, with his other papers, to the care of his noble friend and patron the Duke of Queensberry. His Grace has accordingly permitted them to the prefs; and they are here printed from the originals in the Author's own hand-writing. We hope they will please equally with his former Fables, though mostly on fubjects of a graver and more political turn. They will certainly fhew him to have been (what he efteemed the beft character) a man of a truly honeft heart, and a fincere lover of his country.

I KNOW you Lawyers can, with ease,
Twift words and meanings as you please
That language, by your skill made pliant,
Will bend to fave

every client;