Or France, which you extol so high,
Taught you with better grace to fly?
I cannot see that both together
Have alter'd you a single feather:
Then tell not us of where you've been,
Of what you've done, or what you've seen;
While you and all your rambling pack
Cuckoos go out, Cuckoos come back."

TW

In which no smiles, no charms appear; Bare were the trees; the rivers froze; The hills and mountains capt with snows; When, lodging scarce and victuals scant, A Grasshopper address'd an Ant:

And, in a supplicating tone,

Begg'd he would make her case his own.

"It was, indeed, a bitter task
To those who were unused to ask ;
Yet she was forc'd the truth to say,
She had not broke her fast that day;
His worship, tho', with plenty bless'd,
Knew how to pity the distress'd;
A grain of corn to her was gold,
And Heav'n would yield him fifty-fold."

The Ant beheld her wretched plight,
Nor seem'd unfeeling at the sight;
Yet, still inquisitive to know

How she became reduc'd so low,

Asked her we 'll e'en suppose in rhymeWhat she did all the summer time?

"In summer time, good sir," said she, "Ah! these were merry months with me! I thought of nothing but delight, And sung, Lord, help me! day and night: Through yonder meadows did you pass, You must have heard me in the grass."

"Ah!" cry'd the Ant, and knit his brow"But 'tis enough I hear you now;

And, Madam Songstress, to be plain,

You seek my charity in vain :

What, shall th' industrious yield his due

To thriftless vagabonds like you!

Some corn I have, but none to spare,
Next summer learn to take more care;
And in your frolic moods, remember,
July is follow'd by December."

A

FABLE III.

PROWLING Wolf, that scour'd the plains,
To ease his hunger's griping pains,

Ragged as courtier in disgrace,

Hide-bound, and lean, and out of case,
By chance a well-fed Dog espy'd,
And being kin, and near ally'd,
He civilly salutes the cur:

"How do you, Cuz? Your servant, sir.
O happy friend! how gay thy mien !
How plump thy sides, how sleek thy skin!

Triumphant plenty shines all o'er,
And the fat melts at ev'ry pore!
While I, alas! decay'd and old,
With hunger pin'd, and stiff with cold,
With many a howl and hideous groan,
Tell the relentless woods my moan.
Pr'ythee (my happy friend !) impart
Thy wondrous, cunning, thriving art."
"Why, faith, I'll tell thee as a friend,
But first thy surly manners mend;
Be complaisant, obliging, kind,
And leave the Wolf for once behind."

The Wolf, whose mouth began to water,
With joy and rapture gallop'd after,
When thus the Dog: "At bed and board,
I share the plenty of my lord;

From ev'ry guest I claim a fee,
Who court my lord by bribing me.
In mirth I revel all the day,
And many a game at romps I play :
I fetch and carry, leap o'er sticks,
With twenty such diverting tricks."
"'Tis pretty, faith," the Wolf reply'd,
And on his neck the collar spy'd:
He starts, and without more ado,
He bids the abject wretch adieu:
"Enjoy your dainties, friend; to me
The noblest feast is liberty:

The famish'd Wolf, upon these desert plains,
Is happier than a fawning cur in chains."

HOW few with patience can endure

The evils they themselves procure.

A Nightingale, with snares beset,
At last was taken in a net:

When first she found her wings confin'd,
She beat and flutter'd in the wind,
Still thinking she could fly away;
Still hoping to regain the spray :
But, finding there was no retreat,
Her little heart with anger beat;
Nor did it aught abate her rage
To be transmitted to a cage.
The wire apartment, tho' commodious,
To her appear'd excessive odious;
And though it furnish'd drink and meat,
She car'd not, for she could not eat;