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FABLE [02] II.
The Spaniel and the Cameleon.
1 A Spaniel, bred with all the care
2 That waits upon a fav'rite heir,
3 Ne'er felt correction's rigid hand;
4 Indulg'd to disobey command,
5 In pamper'd ease his hours were spent;
6 He never knew what learning meant;
[Page 7]7 Such forward airs, so pert, so smart,
8 Were sure to win his lady's heart,
9 Each little mischief gain'd him praise;
10 How pretty were his fawning ways!
11 The wind was south, the morning fair,
12 He ventures forth to take the air;
13 He ranges all the meadow round,
14 And rolls upon the softest ground;
15 When near him a Cameleon seen
16 Was scarce distinguish'd from the green.
17 Dear emblem of the flatt'ring host,
18 What live with clowns, a genius lost!
19 To citys and the court repair,
20 A fortune cannot fail thee there;
21 Preferment shall thy talents crown.
22 Believe me, friend; I know the town.
23 Sir, says the sycophant, like you,
24 Of old, politer life I knew;
25 Like you, a courtier born and bred,
26 Kings lean'd their ear to what I said,
[Page 8]27 My whisper always met success,
28 The ladys prais'd me for address,
29 I knew to hit each courtier's passion,
30 And flatter'd ev'ry vice in fashion.
31 But Jove, who hates the lyar's ways,
32 At once cut short my prosp'rous days,
33 And, sentenc'd to retain my nature,
34 Transform'd me to this crawling creature;
35 Doom'd to a life obscure and mean,
36 I wander in the sylvan scene.
37 For Jove the heart alone regards,
38 He punishes what man rewards.
39 How diff'rent is thy case and mine!
40 With men at least you sup and dine,
41 While I, condemn'd to thinnest fare,
42 Like those I flatter'd, feed on air.
Source edition
Gay, John, 1685-1732. FABLES. By Mr. GAY. London: Printed for J. Tonson and J. Watts, MDCCXXVII., 1727, pp. 6-8. [14],173,[1]p.: ill.; 4°. (ESTC T13818)
Editorial principles
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 John Gay
- [FABLE ] INTRODUCTION TO THE FABLES. The Shepherd and the Philosopher. ()
- FABLE [01] I. The Lyon, the Tyger, and the Traveller. ()
- FABLE [03] III. The Mother, the Nurse, and the Fairy. ()
- FABLE [04] IV. The Eagle, and the Assembly of Animals. ()
- FABLE [05] V. The Wild Boar and the Ram. ()
- FABLE [06] VI. The Miser and Plutus. ()
- FABLE [07] VII. The Lyon, the Fox, and the Geese. ()
- FABLE [08] VIII. The Lady and the Wasp. ()
- FABLE [09] IX. The Bull and the Mastiff. ()
- FABLE [10] X. The Elephant and the Bookseller. ()
- FABLE [11] XI. The Peacock, the Turkey, and Goose. ()
- FABLE [12] XII. Cupid, Hymen, and Plutus. ()
- FABLE [13] XIII. The tame Stag. ()
- FABLE [14] XIV. The Monkey who had seen the World. ()
- FABLE [15] XV. The Philosopher and the Pheasants. ()
- FABLE [16] XVI. The Pin and the Needle. ()
- FABLE [17] XVII. The Shepherd's Dog and the Wolf. ()
- FABLE [18] XVIII. The Painter who pleased No body and Every body. ()
- FABLE [19] XIX. The Lyon and the Cub. ()
- FABLE [20] XX. The Old Hen and the Cock. ()
- FABLE [21] XXI. The Rat-catcher and Cats. ()
- FABLE [22] XXII. The Goat without a beard. ()
- FABLE [23] XXIII. The Old Woman and her Cats. ()
- FABLE [24] XXIV. The Butterfly and the Snail. ()
- FABLE [25] XXV. The Scold and the Parrot. ()
- FABLE [26] XXVI. The Cur and the Mastiff. ()
- FABLE [27] XXVII. The Sick Man and the Angel. ()
- FABLE [28] XXVIII. The Persian, the Sun and the Cloud. ()
- FABLE [29] XXIX. The Fox at the point of death. ()
- FABLE [30] XXX. The Setting-dog and the Partridge. ()
- FABLE [31] XXXI. The Universal Apparition. ()
- FABLE [32] XXXII. The two Owls and the Sparrow. ()
- FABLE [33] XXXIII. The Courtier and Proteus. ()
- FABLE [34] XXXIV. The Mastiffs. ()
- FABLE [35] XXXV. The Barley-mow and the Dung-hill. ()
- FABLE [36] XXXVI. Pythagoras and the Countryman. ()
- FABLE [37] XXXVII. The Farmer's Wife and the Raven. ()
- FABLE [38] XXXVIII. The Turkey and the Ant. ()
- FABLE [39] XXXIX. The Father and Jupiter. ()
- FABLE [40] XL. The two Monkeys. ()
- FABLE [41] XLI. The Owl and the Farmer. ()
- FABLE [42] XLII. The Jugglers. ()
- FABLE [43] XLIII. The Council of Horses. ()
- FABLE [44] XLIV. The Hound and the Huntsman. ()
- FABLE [45] XLV. The Poet and the Rose. ()
- FABLE [46] XLVI. The Cur, the Horse, and the Shepherd's Dog. ()
- FABLE [47] XLVII. The Court of Death. ()
- FABLE [48] XLVIII. The Gardener and the Hog. ()
- FABLE [49] XLIX. The Man and the Flea. ()
- FABLE [50] L. The Hare and many Friends. ()