lost. 
  The bear, presuming in his skill,
  Is here and there officious still;
  Till striking on the dangerous sands,
  Aground the shattered vessel stands.
120
     To see the bungler thus distress’d,
  The very fishes sneer and jest. 
  Even gudgeons join in ridicule,
  To mortify the meddling fool. 
  The clamorous watermen appear;
  Threats, curses, oaths, insult his ear: 
  Seized, thrashed, and chained, he’s dragged to land;
  Derision shouts along the strand.

* * * * *

FABLE VI.

THE SQUIRE AND HIS CUR.

TO A COUNTRY GENTLEMAN.

The man of pure and simple heart
Through life disdains a double part. 
He never needs the screen of lies
His inward bosom to disguise. 
In vain malicious tongues assail;
Let envy snarl, let slander rail,
From virtue’s shield (secure from wound)
Their blunted, venomed shafts rebound. 
So shines his light before mankind,
His actions prove his honest mind.
10
If in his country’s cause he rise,
Debating senates to advise,
Unbribed, unawed, he dares impart
The honest dictates of his heart. 
No ministerial frown he fears,
But in his virtue perseveres. 
But would you play the politician,
Whose heart’s averse to intuition,
Your lips at all times, nay, your reason
Must be controlled by place and season.
20
What statesman could his power support
Were lying tongues forbid the court? 
Did princely ears to truth attend,
What minister could gain his end? 
How could he raise his tools to place,
And how his honest foes disgrace? 
That politician tops his part,
Who readily can lie with art: 
The man’s proficient in his trade;
His power is strong, his fortune’s made.
30
By that the interest of the throne
Is made subservient to his own: 
By that have kings of old, deluded,
All their own friends for his excluded. 
By that, his selfish schemes pursuing,
He thrives upon the public ruin. 
Antiochus,[8] with hardy pace,
Provoked the dangers of the chase;
And, lost from all his menial train,
Traversed the wood and pathless plain.
40
A cottage lodged the royal guest! 
The Parthian clown brought forth his best. 
The king, unknown, his feast enjoyed,
And various chat the hours employed. 
From wine what sudden friendship springs! 
Frankly they talked of courts and kings. 
‘We country-folks,’ the clown replies,
’Could ope our gracious monarch’s eyes. 
The king, (as all our neighbours say,)
Might he (God bless him) have his way,
50
Is sound at heart, and means our good,
And he would do it, if he could. 
If truth in courts were not forbid,
Nor kings nor subjects would be rid. 
Were he in power, we need not doubt him: 
But that transferred to those about him,