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FABLE [04] IV.
The Eagle, and the Assembly of Animals.
1 AS Jupiter's all-seeing eye
2 Survey'd the worlds beneath the sky,
3 From this small speck of earth were sent
4 Murmurs and sounds of discontent;
5 For ev'ry thing alive complain'd
6 That he the hardest life sustain'd.
7 Jove calls his Eagle. At the word
8 Before him stands the royal bird.
9 The Bird, obedient, from heav'n's height
10 Downward directs his rapid flight;
11 Then cited ev'ry living thing,
12 To hear the mandates of his king.
13 Ungrateful creatures, whence arise
14 These murmurs which offend the skies;
15 Why this disorder? say the cause:
16 For just are Jove's eternal Laws.
17 Let each his discontent reveal.
18 To yon sour dog I first appeal.
19 Hard is my lot, the hound replys,
20 On what fleet nerves the greyhound flys!
21 While I with weary step and slow
22 O'er plains and vales and mountains go;
23 The morning sees my chase begun,
24 Nor ends it 'till the setting sun.
25 When (says the greyhound) I pursue,
26 My game is lost, or caught in view,
[Page 14]27 Beyond my sight the prey's secure:
28 The hound is slow but always sure.
29 And, had I his sagacious scent,
30 Jove ne'er had heard my discontent.
31 The lyon crav'd the foxe's art;
32 The fox, the lyon's force and heart;
33 The cock implor'd the pidgeon's flight,
34 Whose wings were rapid, strong and light;
35 The pidgeon strength of wing despis'd,
36 And the cock's matchless valour priz'd:
37 The fishes wish'd to graze the plain,
38 The beasts to skim beneath the main.
39 Thus, envious of another's state,
40 Each blam'd the partial hand of Fate.
41 The bird of heav'n then cry'd aloud.
42 Jove bids disperse the murm'ring croud:
43 The God rejects your idle prayers.
44 Would ye, rebellious mutineers,
45 Entirely change your name and nature,
46 And be the very envy'd creature?
[Page 15]47 What, silent all, and none consent!
48 Be happy then, and learn content.
49 Nor imitate the restless mind,
50 And proud ambition of mankind.
Source edition
Gay, John, 1685-1732. FABLES. By Mr. GAY. London: Printed for J. Tonson and J. Watts, MDCCXXVII., 1727, pp. 12-15. [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 [02] II. The Spaniel and the Cameleon. ()
- FABLE [03] III. The Mother, the Nurse, and the Fairy. ()
- 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. ()