A bankrupt Cobbler, poor and lean, (No bungler e’er was half so mean) Went to a foreign place, and there Began his med’cines to prepare: But one of more especial note He call’d his sovereign antidote; And by his technical bombast Contrived to raise a name at last. It happen’d that the king was sick, Who, willing to detect the trick, Call’d for some water in an ewer, Poison in which he feign’d to pour The antidote was likewise mix’d; He then upon th’ empiric fix’d To take the medicated cup, And, for a premium, drink it up The quack, through dread of death, confess’d That he was of no skill possess’d; But all this great and glorious job Was made of nonsense and the mob. Then did the king his peers convoke, And thus unto th’ assembly spoke: “My lords and gentlemen, I rate Your folly as inordinate, Who trust your heads into his hand, Where no one had his heels japann’d.”-- This story their attention craves Whose weakness is the prey of knaves. XV. THE SAPIENT ASS. In all the changes of a state, The poor are the most fortunate, Who, save the name of him they call Their king, can find no odds at all. The truth of this you now may read-- A fearful old man in a mead, While leading of his Ass about, Was startled at the sudden shout Of enemies approaching nigh. He then advised the Ass to fly, “Lest we be taken in the place:” But loth at all to mend his pace, “Pray, will the conqueror,” quoth Jack, “With double panniers load my back?” “No,” says the man. “If that’s the thing,” Cries he, “I care not who is king.” XVI. THE SHEEP, THE STAG, AND THE WOLF. When one rogue would another get For surety in a case of debt, ’Tis not the thing t’ accept the terms, But dread th’ event--the tale affirms. A Stag approach’d the Sheep, to treat For one good bushel of her wheat. “The honest Wolf will give his bond.” At which, beginning to despond, “The Wolf (cries she) ’s a vagrant bite. And you are quickly out of sight; Where shall I find or him or you Upon the day the debt is due?” XVII. THE SHEEP, THE DOG, AND THE WOLF. Liars are liable to rue The mischief they’re so prone to do. The Sheep a Dog unjustly dunn’d One loaf directly to refund, Which he the Dog to the said Sheep Had given in confidence to keep. The Wolf was summoned, and he swore It was not one, but ten or more. The Sheep was therefore cast at law To pay for things she never saw. But, lo! ere many days ensued, Dead in a ditch the Wolf she view’d: “This, this,” she cried, “is Heaven’s decree Of justice on a wretch like thee.” XIX. THE BITCH AND HER PUPPIES.