Well, said the Panther, I believe him just,
  And yet——­
  And yet, ’tis but because you must;
  You would be trusted, but you would not trust. 
  The Hind thus briefly; and disdain’d to enlarge
  On power of kings, and their superior charge,
  As Heaven’s trustees before the people’s choice:  890
  Though sure the Panther did not much rejoice
  To hear those echoes given of her once loyal voice.

  The matron woo’d her kindness to the last,
  But could not win; her hour of grace was past. 
  Whom, thus persisting, when she could not bring
  To leave the Wolf, and to believe her king,
  She gave her up, and fairly wish’d her joy
  Of her late treaty with her new ally: 
  Which well she hoped would more successful prove,
  Than was the Pigeon’s and the Buzzard’s love. 900
  The Panther ask’d what concord there could be
  Betwixt two kinds whose natures disagree? 
  The dame replied:  ’Tis sung in every street,
  The common chat of gossips when they meet;
  But, since unheard by you, ’tis worth your while
  To take a wholesome tale, though told in homely style.

   A plain good man,[130] whose name is understood
  (So few deserve the name of plain and good),
  Of three fair lineal lordships stood possess’d,
  And lived, as reason was, upon the best. 910
  Inured to hardships from his early youth,
  Much had he done, and suffer’d for his truth: 
  At land and sea, in many a doubtful fight,
  Was never known a more adventurous knight,
  Who oftener drew his sword, and always for the right.

   As fortune would (his fortune came, though late)
  He took possession of his just estate: 
  Nor rack’d his tenants with increase of rent;
  Nor lived too sparing, nor too largely spent;
  But overlook’d his hinds; their pay was just, 920
  And ready, for he scorn’d to go on trust: 
  Slow to resolve, but in performance quick;
  So true, that he was awkward at a trick. 
  For little souls on little shifts rely,
  And coward arts of mean expedients try;
  The noble mind will dare do anything but lie. 
  False friends, his deadliest foes, could find no way
  But shows of honest bluntness, to betray: 
  That unsuspected plainness he believed;
  He looked into himself, and was deceived. 930
  Some lucky planet sure attends his birth,
  Or Heaven would make a miracle on earth;
  For prosperous honesty is seldom seen
  To bear so dead a weight, and yet to win. 
  It looks as fate with nature’s law would strive,
  To show plain-dealing once an age may thrive: 
  And, when so tough a frame she could not bend,
  Exceeded her commission to befriend.

    This grateful man, as Heaven increased his store. 
  Gave God again, and daily fed his poor. 940
  His house with all convenience was purvey’d;
  The rest he found, but raised the fabric where he pray’d;
  And in that sacred place his beauteous wife
  Employ’d her happiest hours of holy life.