The Poetical Works of Addison; Gay's Fables; and Somerville's Chase Part 16

John Gay had his faults as a man and as a poet, and it were easy finding fault with him in both capacities. But

"Poor were the triumph o'er the timid hare;"

and he was, by his own shewing, as well as Queen Caroline's, "the Hare with many friends." Let us, instead, drop a "tear over his fate," and pay a tribute, short, but sincere, to his true, though limited genius.

GAY'S FABLES.

INTRODUCTION.

PART I.

THE SHEPHERD AND THE PHILOSOPHER.

Remote from cities lived a swain, Unvexed with all the cares of gain; His head was silvered o'er with age, And long experience made him sage; In summer's heat, and winter's cold, He fed his flock and penned the fold; His hours in cheerful labour flew, Nor envy nor ambition knew: His wisdom and his honest fame Through all the country raised his name.

_10 A deep philosopher (whose rules Of moral life were drawn from schools) The shepherd's homely cottage sought And thus explored his reach of thought: 'Whence is thy learning? Hath thy toil O'er books consumed the midnight oil?

Hast thou old Greece and Rome surveyed, And the vast sense of Plato weighed?

Hath Socrates thy soul refined, And hast thou fathomed Tully's mind?

_20 Or like the wise Ulysses, thrown By various fates, on realms unknown, Hast thou through many cities strayed, Their customs, laws, and manners weighed?'

The shepherd modestly replied, 'I ne'er the paths of learning tried; Nor have I roamed in foreign parts To read mankind, their laws and arts; For man is practised in disguise, He cheats the most discerning eyes; _30 Who by that search shall wiser grow, When we ourselves can never know?

The little knowledge I have gained, Was all from simple nature drained; Hence my life's maxims took their rise, Hence grew my settled hate to vice.

The daily labours of the bee Awake my soul to industry.

Who can observe the careful ant, And not provide for future want?

_40 My dog (the trustiest of his kind) With grat.i.tude inflames my mind.

I mark his true, his faithful way, And in my service copy Tray.

In constancy and nuptial love, I learn my duty from the dove.

The hen, who from the chilly air, With pious wing protects her care; And every fowl that flies at large, Instructs me in a parent's charge.

_50 From nature too I take my rule, To shun contempt and ridicule.

I never, with important air, In conversation overbear.

Can grave and formal pa.s.s for wise, When men the solemn owl despise?

My tongue within my lips I rein; For who talks much, must talk in vain.

We from the wordy torrent fly: Who listens to the chattering pye?

_60 Nor would I, with felonious flight, By stealth invade my neighbour's right; Rapacious animals we hate: Kites, hawks, and wolves deserve their fate.

Do not we just abhorrence find Against the toad and serpent kind?

But envy, calumny, and spite, Bear stronger venom in their bite.

Thus every object of creation Can furnish hints to contemplation; _70 And from the most minute and mean, A virtuous mind can morals glean.'

'Thy fame is just,' the sage replies; 'Thy virtue proves thee truly wise.

Pride often guides the author's pen, Books as affected are as men: But he who studies nature's laws, From certain truth his maxims draws; And those, without our schools, suffice To make men moral, good, and wise.'

_80

TO HIS HIGHNESS

WILLIAM, DUXE OF c.u.mBERLAND.[1]

FABLE I.

THE LION, THE TIGER, AND THE TRAVELLER.

Accept, young Prince, the moral lay And in these tales mankind survey; With early virtues plant your breast, The specious arts of vice detest.

Princes, like beauties, from their youth Are strangers to the voice of truth; Learn to contemn all praise betimes; For flattery's the nurse of crimes; Friendship by sweet reproof is shown, (A virtue never near a throne); _10 In courts such freedom must offend, There none presumes to be a friend.

To those of your exalted station Each courtier is a dedication.

Must I too flatter like the rest, And turn my morals to a jest?

The Muse disdains to steal from those Who thrive in courts by fulsome prose.

But shall I hide your real praise, Or tell you what a nation says?

_20 They in your infant bosom trace The virtues of your royal race; In the fair dawning of your mind Discern you generous, mild, and kind; They see you grieve to hear distress, And pant already to redress.

Go on, the height of good attain, Nor let a nation hope in vain.

For hence we justly may presage The virtues of a riper age.

_30 True courage shall your bosom fire, And future actions own you sire.

Cowards are cruel, but the brave Love mercy, and delight to save.

A tiger roaming for his prey, Sprung on a traveller in the way; The prostrate game a lion spies, And on the greedy tyrant flies; With mingled roar resounds the wood, Their teeth, their claws distil with blood; _40 Till vanquished by the lion's strength, The spotted foe extends his length.

The man besought the s.h.a.ggy lord, And on his knees for life implored.

His life the generous hero gave, Together walking to his cave, The lion thus bespoke his guest: 'What hardy beast shall dare contest My matchless strength! you saw the fight, And must attest my power and right.

_50 Forced to forego their native home, My starving slaves at distance roam.

Within these woods I reign alone, The boundless forest is my own.

Bears, wolves, and all the savage brood, Have dyed the regal den with blood.

These carcases on either hand, Those bones that whiten all the land, My former deeds and triumphs tell, Beneath these jaws what numbers fell.'

_60 'True,' says the man, 'the strength I saw Might well the brutal nation awe: But shall a monarch, brave like you, Place glory in so false a view?

Robbers invade their neighbours' right, Be loved: let justice bound your might.

Mean are ambitious heroes' boasts Of wasted lands and slaughtered hosts.

Pirates their power by murders gain, Wise kings by love and mercy reign.

_70 To me your clemency hath shown The virtue worthy of a throne.

Heaven gives you power above the rest, Like Heaven to succour the distress'd.'

'The case is plain,' the monarch said; 'False glory hath my youth misled; For beasts of prey, a servile train, Have been the flatterers of my reign.

You reason well: yet tell me, friend, Did ever you in courts attend?

_80 For all my fawning rogues agree, That human heroes rule like me.'

FABLE II.

THE SPANIEL AND THE CAMELEON.

A spaniel, bred with all the care That waits upon a favourite heir, Ne'er felt correction's rigid hand; Indulged to disobey command, In pampered ease his hours were spent; He never knew what learning meant.

Such forward airs, so pert, so smart, Were sure to win his lady's heart; Each little mischief gained him praise; How pretty were his fawning ways!

_10 The wind was south, the morning fair, He ventured forth to take the air.

He ranges all the meadow round, And rolls upon the softest ground: When near him a cameleon seen, Was scarce distinguished from the green.

'Dear emblem of the flattering host, What, live with clowns! a genius lost!

To cities and the court repair: A fortune cannot fail thee there: _20 Preferment shall thy talents crown, Believe me, friend; I know the town.'