‘I grant,’ says man, ’to general use
  Your parts and talents may conduce;
  For rats and mice purloin our grain,
  And threshers whirl the flail in vain: 
  Thus shall the cat, a foe to spoil,
  Protect the farmer’s honest toil,’
90
  Then, turning to the dog, he cried,
  ‘Well, sir; be next your merits tried.’ 
     ‘Sir,’ says the dog, ’by self-applause
  We seem to own a friendless cause. 
  Ask those who know me, if distrust
  E’er found me treacherous or unjust? 
  Did I e’er faith or friendship break? 
  Ask all those creatures; let them speak. 
  My vigilance and trusty zeal
  Perhaps might serve the public weal.
100
  Might not your flocks in safety feed,
  Were I to guard the fleecy breed? 
  Did I the nightly watches keep,
  Could thieves invade you while you sleep?’
     The man replies:  ’’Tis just and right;
  Rewards such service should requite. 
  So rare, in property, we find
  Trust uncorrupt among mankind,
  That, taken, in a public view,
  The first distinction is your due.
110
  Such merits all reward transcend: 
  Be then my comrade and my friend.’ 
     Addressing now the fly:  ’From you
  What public service can accrue?’
  ‘From me!’ the flutt’ring insect said;
  ’I thought you knew me better bred. 
  Sir, I’m a gentleman.  Is’t fit
  That I to industry submit? 
  Let mean mechanics, to be fed
  By business earn ignoble bread.
120
  Lost in excess of daily joys,
  No thought, no care my life annoys,
  At noon (the lady’s matin hour)
  I sip the tea’s delicious flower. 
  On cakes luxuriously I dine,
  And drink the fragrance of the vine. 
  Studious of elegance and ease,
  Myself alone I seek to please.’ 
  The man his pert conceit derides,
  And thus the useless coxcomb chides: 
130
     ’Hence, from that peach, that downy seat,
  No idle fool deserves to eat. 
  Could you have sapped the blushing rind,
  And on that pulp ambrosial dined,
  Had not some hand with skill and toil,
  To raise the tree, prepared the soil? 
  Consider, sot, what would ensue,
  Were all such worthless things as you. 
  You’d soon be forced (by hunger stung)
  To make your dirty meals on dung;
140
  On which such despicable need,
  Unpitied, is reduced to feed;
  Besides, vain selfish insect, learn
  (If you can right and wrong discern)
  That he who, with industrious zeal,
  Contributes to the public weal,
  By adding to the common good,
  His own hath rightly understood.’ 
     So saying, with a sudden blow,
  He laid the noxious vagrant low.
150
  Crushed in his luxury and pride,
  The spunger on the public died.

* * * * *

FABLE IX.

THE JACKALL, LEOPARD, AND OTHER BEASTS