For beauty, tho' we all approve,
Excites our wonder more than love;
While the agreeable ftrikes fure,
And gives the wounds we cannot cure.
Why then, my Amoret, this care,
That forms you, in effect, lefs fair?
If nature on your cheek beftows
A bloom that emulates the rose,
Or from fome heav'nly image drew
A form Apelles never knew,
Your ill-judg'd aid will you impart,
And spoil by meretricious art?
Or had you, nature's error, come
Abortive from the mother's womb,
Your forming care she still rejects,
Which only heightens her defects.
When fuch, of glitt'ring jewels proud,
Still prefs the foremost in the crowd,
At ev'ry public fhew are seen,
With look awry, and awkward mien,
The gaudy drefs attracts the eye,
And magnifies deformity.
Nature under-do her part,
But feldom wants the help of art;
Truft her, fhe is your fureft friend,
Nor made your form for you to mend.
A Goofe, affected, empty, vain,
The fhrilleft of the cackling train,
With proud and elevated creft
Precedence claim'd above the rest.
Says he, "I laugh at human race,
"Who say geese hobble in their pace:
"Look here! the fland'rous lie detect;
"Not haughty man is fo erect.
"That peacock yonder! lord, how vain
"The creature's of his gaudy train!
"If both were stript, I pawn my word
"A goose would be the finer bird.
Nature to hide her own defects,
"Her bungled work with finery decks;
"Were geefe fet off with half that show,
Would men admire the peacock? No."
Thus vaunting, 'crofs the mead she stalks,
The cackling breed attend her walks;
The fun shot down his noon-tide beams,
The fwans were sporting in the streams;
Their fnowy plumes, and stately pride
Provok'd her spleen. "Why there," fhe cried,
Again what arrogance we fee!
"Thofe creatures! how they mimic me!
"Shall ev'ry fowl the waters skim,
Because we geese are known to swim!
"Humility they foon fhall learn,
"And their own emptiness discern."
So faying, with extended wings
Lightly upon the waves fhe fprings;
Her bofom fwells, the fpreads her plumes,
And the fwan's ftately creft affumes.
Contempt and mockery enfued,
And bursts of laughter fhook the flood.
A Swan fuperior to the reft,
Sprung forth, and thus the fool addrefs'd:
"Conceited thing, elate with pride!
"Thy affectation all deride!
"Thefe airs thy awkwardness impart,
"And fhew thee plainly as thou art.
"Among thy equals of the flock
"Thou hadft efcap'd the public mock;
"And, as thy parts to good conduce,
"Been deem'd an honest hobbling Goose.
"Learn hence to ftudy wifdom's rules;
"Know foppery's the pride of fools;
"And, ftriving nature to conceal,
"You only her defects reveal."
THE FARMER, THE SPANIEL, AND THE CAT.
WHY knits my dear her angry brow?
What rude offence alarms you now?
I faid that Delia's fair, 'tis true,
But did I fay the equall'd you?
Can't I another's face commend,
Or to her virtues be a friend,
But inftantly your forehead low'rs,
As if her merit leffen'd yours?
From female envy never free,
All must be blind because you fee.
Survey the gardens, fields, and bow'rs,
The buds, the blossoms, and the flow'rs;
Then tell me where the woodbine grows,
That vies in sweetness with the rose;
Or where the lily's fnowy white,
That throws fuch beauties on the fight?
Yet folly is it to declare,
That these are neither fweet nor fair;
The crystal shines with fainter rays
Before the diamond's brighter blaze;
And fops will fay the diamond dies
Before the luftre of your eyes:
But I, who deal in truth, deny
That neither fhine when you are by.
When zephyrs o'er the bloffom ftray,
And fweets along the air convey,
Sha'n't I the fragrant breeze inhale,
Because you breathe a fweeter gale?
Sweet are the flow'rs that deck the field,
Sweet is the fmeil the bloffoms yield;
Sweet is the fummer gale that blows;
And fweet, tho' sweeter you, the rose.
Shall envy then torment your breaft,
If you are lovelier than the rest?
For while I give to each her due,
By praifing them, I flatter you;
And praifing moft, I ftill declare
You faireft, where the reft are fair.
As at his board a Farmer fate,
Replenish'd by his homely treat,
His fav'rite Spaniel near him stood,
And with his master fhar'd the food;
The crackling bones his jaws devour'd,
His lapping tongue the trenchers fcour'd;
Till fated now fupine he lay,
And fnor'd the rifing fumes away.
The hungry Cat in turn drew near,
And humbly crav'd a fervant's fhare;
Her modeft worth the mafter knew,
And straight the flatt'ring morfel threw:
Enrag'd, the fnarling cur awoke,
And thus with spiteful envy spoke:
66 They only claim a right to eat,
"Who earn by fervices their meat;
"Me zeal and industry inflame
"To scour the fields and spring the game;
"Or, plung'd into the wint'ry wave,
"For man the wounded bird to save;
"With watchful diligence I keep
"From prowling wolves his fleecy sheep;
"At home his midnight hours fecure,
"And drive the robber from the door:
"For this, his breaft with kindness glows,
"For this, his hand the food bestows;
"And fhall thy indolence impart
"A warmer friendship to his heart,
"That thus he robs me of my due,
"To pamper fuch vile things as you?”
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