A fool pursued, with club and stone, A sage, who said, 'My friend, well done! Receive this guinea for your pains; They well deserve far higher gains. The workman's worthy of his hire, 'Tis said. There comes a wealthy squire, Who hath wherewith thy works to pay; To him direct thy gifts, and they Shall gain their proper recompense.' Urged by the hope of gain, Upon the wealthy citizen The fool repeated the offence. His pay this time was not in gold. Upon the witless man A score of ready footmen ran, And on his back, in full, his wages told. In courts, such fools afflict the wise; They raise the laugh at your expense. To check their babble, were it sense Their folly meetly to chastise? Perhaps 'twill take a stronger man. Then make them worry one who can. [34] Phaedrus, III., 4; also _Aesop_. XXIII.--THE ENGLISH FOX.[35] To Madame Harvey.[36] Sound reason and a tender heart With thee are friends that never part. A hundred traits might swell the roll;-- Suffice to name thy nobleness of soul; Thy power to guide both men and things; Thy temper open, bland and free, A gift that draweth friends to thee, To which thy firm affection clings, Unmarr'd by age or change of clime, Or tempests of this stormy time;-- All which deserve, in highest lyric, A rich and lofty panegyric; But no such thing wouldst thou desire, Whom pomp displeases, praises tire. Hence mine is simple, short, and plain; Yet, madam, I would fain Tack on a word or two Of homage to your country due,-- A country well beloved by you.