Their dress, their courtly manners see; Reform your state and copy me. Seek ye to thrive? in flattery deal; Your scorn, your hate, with that conceal. Seem only to regard your friends, But use them for your private ends. Stint not to truth the flow of wit; Be prompt to lie whene'er 'tis fit. Bend all your force to spatter merit; Scandal is conversation's spirit. _50 Boldly to everything attend, And men your talents shall commend. I knew the great. Observe me right; So shall you grow like man polite.' He spoke and bowed. With muttering jaws The wondering circle grinned applause. Now, warm with malice, envy, spite, Their most obliging friends they bite; And fond to copy human ways, Practise new mischiefs all their days. _60 Thus the dull lad, too tall for school, With travel finishes the fool; Studious of every coxcomb's airs, He drinks, games, dresses, whores, and swears; O'erlooks with scorn all virtuous arts, For vice is fitted to his parts. * * * * * FABLE XV. THE PHILOSOPHER AND THE PHEASANTS. The sage, awaked at early day, Through the deep forest took his way; Drawn by the music of the groves, Along the winding gloom he roves: From tree to tree, the warbling throats Prolong the sweet alternate notes. But where he pass'd, he terror threw, The song broke short, the warblers flew; The thrushes chattered with affright, And nightingales abhorred his sight; _10 All animals before him ran, To shun the hateful sight of man. 'Whence is this dread of every creature? Fly they our figure or our nature?' As thus he walked in musing thought, His ear imperfect accents caught; With cautious step he nearer drew, By the thick shade concealed from view. High on the branch a pheasant stood, Around her all her listening brood; _20 Proud of the blessings of her nest, She thus a mother's care expressed: 'No dangers here shall circumvent, Within the woods enjoy content. Sooner the hawk or vulture trust, Than man; of animals the worst: In him ingratitude you find, A vice peculiar to the kind. The sheep whose annual fleece is dyed, To guard his health, and serve his pride, _30 Forced from his fold and native plain, Is in the cruel shambles slain. The swarms, who, with industrious skill, His hives with wax and honey fill, In vain whole summer days employed, Their stores are sold, their race destroyed. What tribute from the goose is paid! Does not her wing all science aid! Does it not lovers' hearts explain, And drudge to raise the merchant's gain? _40 What now rewards this general use? He takes the quills, and eats the goose. Man then avoid, detest his ways; So safety shall prolong your days. When services are thus acquitted, Be sure we pheasants must be spitted.' * * * * * FABLE XVI. THE PIN AND THE NEEDLE.