As a young stag the thicket pass’d,
  The branches held his antlers fast;
  A clown, who saw the captive hung,
  Across the horns his halter flung. 
     Now safely hampered in the cord,
  He bore the present to his lord. 
  His lord was pleased; as was the clown,
  When he was tipp’d with half-a-crown. 
  The stag was brought before his wife;
  The tender lady begged his life.
10
  ’How sleek’s the skin! how speck’d like ermine! 
  Sure never creature was so charming!’
     At first within the yard confined,
  He flies and hides from all mankind;
  Now bolder grown, with fixed amaze,
  And distant awe, presumes to gaze;
  Munches the linen on the lines,
  And on a hood or apron dines: 
  He steals my little master’s bread,
  Follows the servants to be fed: 
20
  Nearer and nearer now he stands,
  To feel the praise of patting hands;
  Examines every fist for meat,
  And though repulsed, disdains retreat: 
  Attacks again with levelled horns;
  And man, that was his terror, scorns. 
     Such is the country maiden’s fright,
  When first a red-coat is in sight;
  Behind the door she hides her face;
  Next time at distance eyes the lace;
30
  She now can all his terrors stand,
  Nor from his squeeze withdraws her hand. 
  She plays familiar in his arms,
  And every soldier hath his charms. 
  From tent to tent she spreads her flame;
  For custom conquers fear and shame.

* * * * *

FABLE XIV.

THE MONKEY WHO HAD SEEN THE WORLD.

  A Monkey, to reform the times,
  Resolved to visit foreign climes: 
  For men in distant regions roam
  To bring politer manners home,
  So forth he fares, all toil defies: 
  Misfortune serves to make us wise. 
     At length the treach’rous snare was laid;
  Poor Pug was caught, to town conveyed,
  There sold.  How envied was his doom,
  Made captive in a lady’s room!
10
  Proud as a lover of his chains,
  He day by day her favour gains. 
  Whene’er the duty of the day
  The toilet calls; with mimic play
  He twirls her knot, he cracks her fan,
  Like any other gentleman. 
  In visits too his parts and wit,
  When jests grew dull, were sure to hit. 
  Proud with applause, he thought his mind
  In every courtly art refined;
20
  Like Orpheus burnt with public zeal,
  To civilise the monkey weal: 
  So watched occasion, broke his chain,
  And sought his native woods again. 
     The hairy sylvans round him press,
  Astonished at his strut and dress. 
  Some praise his sleeve; and others gloat
  Upon his rich embroidered coat;
  His dapper periwig commending,
  With the black tail behind depending;
30
  His powdered back, above, below,