[Page 102]

Of the Ape and the Fox.

A Paraphrase on one of the Centum Fabulae.

1 TO his four-footed Subjects through the Nation,
2 The King of Bruits thus issues Proclamation,
3 Being well informed we have incurr'd Disgrace
4 By Harb'ring in our Realm a Scandalous Race,
5 A Sect that have No Tails; These Presents are
6 T' enjoyn such Miscreants, All and singular,
7 Strait to depart our Land, or on Demurr,
8 Our Laws Grand-Treason Penalties incurr.
9 Sly Reynard strait sists out this state Design,
10 Turns Goods and Chattels All to ready Coyn.
11 The unprojecting Neighbour-hood Admire,
12 And Flock, th'Occasion of his March t'Enquire.
13 Where 'mongst the Rest the ceremonious Ape
14 Accosts him with Grimmace and formall Scrape.
[Page 103]
15 Bon jour Monsieur! You pass for a prime Witt;
16 But in this Project give small Proof of it.
17 We of the Cur-tailed Tripe b'express Command
18 Of our great Cham prepare to quitt the Land;
19 But why Sir shou'd you Budge, Whose Posterns bear
20 A Swashing Train well furrd to guard your Rear?
21 Had Nature lent me but an Inch of Dock,
22 A Tust to Shade, or Scutt to grace my Nock,
23 I shou'd Presume I had no Obligation
24 From the late Act to take this Peregrination.
25 Then thus the Fox — You've spoke an Oracle,
26 Doubtless your Gravity reads Machiavill.
27 I must Confess I've no pretence to rail,
28 Or Curse my starrs for stinting me in Tail;
29 But grant my Train might with a Commet's measure,
30 Suppose withall that 'twere his Highness Pleasure
31 To say I've None? which if he once Assert,
32 Nere doubt but he has Sycophants will swear't;
33 Thus charg'd, shou'd I attempt my own Defence,
34 (To give his Lawless Tyranny Pretence)
[Page 104]
35 'Tis Odds but I am Dockt upon the Spott,
36 And then for want of Tail poor Reynard goes to Pot.

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About this text

Title (in Source Edition): Of the Ape and the Fox. A Paraphrase on one of the Centum Fabulae.
Author: Nahum Tate
Themes:
Genres: fable

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Tate, Nahum, c. 1652-1715. Poems by N. Tate. London: Printed by T.M. for Benj. Tooke ..., 1677, pp. 102-104. [15],133p. (Page images digitized from a copy in the Bodleian Library [Harding C 2953].)

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Typography, spelling, capitalization, and punctuation have been cautiously modernized. The source of the text is given and all significant editorial interventions have been recorded in textual notes. This ECPA text has been edited to conform to the recommendations found in Level 5 of the Best Practices for TEI in Libraries version 4.0.0.

Other works by Nahum Tate