Though I, said he, did ne’er in thought offend,
  How justly may my lord suspect his friend? 
  The appearance is against me, I confess, 780
  Who seemingly have put you in distress: 
  You, if your goodness does not plead my cause,
  May think I broke all hospitable laws,
  To bear you from your palace-yard by might,
  And put your noble person in a fright: 
  This, since you take it ill, I must repent,
  Though, Heaven can witness, with no bad intent: 
  I practised it, to make you taste your cheer
  With double pleasure, first prepared by fear. 
  So loyal subjects often seize their prince, 790
  Forced (for his good) to seeming violence,
  Yet mean his sacred person not the least offence. 
  Descend; so help me Jove, as you shall find,
  That Reynard comes of no dissembling kind.

    Nay, quoth the Cock, but I beshrew us both,
  If I believe a saint upon his oath: 
  An honest man may take a knave’s advice,
  But idiots only may be cozen’d twice: 
  Once warn’d is well bewared; no nattering lies
  Shall soothe me more to sing with winking eyes, 800
  And open mouth, for fear of catching flies. 
  Who blindfold walks upon a river’s brim,
  When he should see, has he deserved to swim?

    Better, Sir Cock, let all contention cease,
  Come down, said Reynard, let us treat of peace. 
  A peace with all my soul, said Chanticleer;
  But, with your favour, I will treat it here: 
  And, lest the truce with treason should be mix’d,
  ’Tis my concern to have the tree betwixt.

  THE MORAL.

    In this plain fable you the effect may see 810
  Of negligence, and fond credulity: 
  And learn besides of flatterers to beware,
  Then most pernicious when they speak too fair. 
  The cock and fox, the fool and knave imply;
  The truth is moral, though the tale a lie. 
  Who spoke in parables, I dare not say;
  But sure he knew it was a pleasing way,
  Sound sense, by plain example, to convey. 
  And in a heathen author we may find,
  That pleasure with instruction should be join’d; 820
  So take the corn, and leave the chaff behind.

* * * * *

FOOTNOTES: 

[Footnote 72:  ‘Alexander’d’:  an allusion to his famous ode.]

[Footnote 73:  ‘Ganfride’:  a mediaeval ballad-monger.]

* * * * *

THE FLOWER AND THE LEAF: 

OR, THE LADY IN THE ARBOUR.[74]

A VISION.