But fee how fortune can confound the wife, And when they least expect it, turn the dice.
The captive cock, who scarce cou'd draw his breath, And lay within the very jaws of death:
Yet in this agony his fancy wrought
And fear fupply'd him with this happy thought:
Yours is the prize, victorious prince, said he,
The vicar my defeat, and all the village fee.
Enjoy your friendly fortune while you may,
And bid the churls that envy you the prey,
Call back their mungril curs, and cease their cry,
See fools, the shelter of the wood is nigh,
And Chanticleer in your defpight shall die.
He fhall be pluck'd, and eaten to the bone.
'Tis well advis'd, in faith it shall be done;
This Reynard faid: but as the word he spoke,
The pris'ner with a spring from prison broke:
Then stretch'd his feather'd fans with all his might,
And to the neighb'ring maple wing'd his flight.
Whom when the traytor safe on tree beheld,
He curs'd the gods, with fhame and forrow fill'd;
Shame for his folly; forrow out of time,
For plotting an unprofitable crime :
Yet mast'ring both, th’artificer of lies
Renews th' affault, and his last batt❜ry tries.
Though I, faid he, did ne'er in thought offend,
How justly may my lord suspect his friend?
Th' appearance is against me, I confefs,
Who feemingly have put you in distress:
You, if your goodness does not plead my cause,
May think I broke all hofpitable laws,
To bear you from your palace-yard by might,
And put your noble perfon in a fright:
This, fince you take it ill, I must repent,
Though heav'n can witness with no bad intent,
I practis'd it, to make you taste your cheer,
With double pleasure first prepar'd by fear.
So loyal fubjects often feize their prince,
Forc'd (for his good) to feeming violence,
Yet mean his facred perfon not the least offence.
Defcend; fo help me Jove as you fhall find
That Reynard comes of no diffembling kind.
Nay, quoth the cock; but I beshrew us both,
If I believe a faint upon his oath :
An honest man may take a knave's advice,
But idiots only will be couzen'd twice:
Once warn'd is well bewar'd: no flatt'ring lies
Shall footh me more to fing with winking eyes,
And open mouth, for fear of catching flies.
Who blindfold walks upon a river's brim
When he should fee, has he deferv'd to swim?
Better, fir cock, let all contention cease,
Come down, faid Reynard, let us treat of peace.
with all my foul, faid chanticleer;
But with your favour, I will treat it here:
And leaft the truce with treason fhould be mixt, 'Tis my concern to have the tree betwixt.
In this plain fable you th' effect may fee Of negligence, and fond credulity: at, And learn befides of flatt'rers 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 fpoke in parables, I dare not fay;
But fure, he knew it was a pleasing way,
Sound fenfe, by plain example, to convey.
And in a heathen author we may find,
That pleasure with instruction should be join'd:
So take the corn, and leave the chaff behind.
OF all the cities in Romanian lands,
The chief, and most renown'd Ravenna ftands:
Adorn'd in ancient times with arms and arts,
And rich inhabitants, with generous hearts.
But Theodore the brave, above the rest,
With gifts of fortune, and of nature bless'd,**
The foremost place, for wealth and honour held,
And all in feats of chivalry excell❜d.
This noble youth to madness lov'd a dame,
Of high degree, Honoria was her name:
Fair as the fairest, but of haughty mind,
And fiercer than became so soft a kind;
Proud of her birth; (for equal she had none;)
The reft she scorn'd; but hated him alone.
His gifts, his constant courtship, nothing gain'd;
For fhe, the more he lov'd, the more difdain'd:
He liv'd with all the pomp he cou'd devise,
At tilts and turnaments obtain❜d the prize,
That found no favour in his lady's eyes:
Relentless as a rock, the lofty maid
Turn'd all to poison that he did, or faid:
Nor pray❜rs, nor tears, nor offer'd vows could move;
The work went backward; and the more he ftrove
T' advance his fute, the farther from her love.
Weary'd at length, and wanting remedy,
He doubted oft, and oft refolv'd to die.
But pride stood ready to prevent the blow,
For who would die to gratify a foe?
His generous mind disdain'd so mean a fate;
That pafs'd, his next endeavour was to hate.
But vainer that relief than all the rest,
The lefs he hop'd with more desire poffefs'd;
Love stood the fiege, and would not yield his breast.
Change was the next, but change deceiv'd his care,
He fought a fairer, but found none so fair.
He would have worn her out by flow degrees,
As men by fasting starve th' untam'd disease:
But prefent love requir'd a prefent ease.
Looking he feeds alone his famish'd eyes,
Feeds lingring death, but looking not he dies.
Yet ftill he chose the longest way to fate,
Wafting at once his life, and his estate.
His friends beheld, and pity'd him in vain,
For what advice can ease a lover's pain!
Absence, the best expedient they could find
Might fave the fortune, if not cure the mind:
This means they long propos'd, but little gain'd,
Yet after much purfuit, at length obtain❜d.
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