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[Page 37]
[Illustration]
FABLE [11] XI.
The Peacock, the Turkey, and Goose.
1 In beauty faults conspicuous grow,
2 The smallest speck is seen on snow.
3 As near a barn, by hunger led,
4 A Peacock with the poultry fed;
5 All view'd him with an envious eye,
6 And mock'd his gaudy pageantry:
[Page 38]7 He, conscious of superior merit,
8 Contemns their base reviling spirit,
9 His state and dignity assumes,
10 And to the sun displays his plumes,
11 Which, like the heav'n's o'er-arching skies,
12 Are spangled with a thousand eyes;
13 The circling rays and varied light
14 At once confound their dazled sight,
15 On ev'ry tongue detraction burns,
16 And malice prompts their spleen by turns.
17 Mark, with what insolence and pride
18 The creature takes his haughty stride,
19 The Turkey crys. Can spleen contain?
20 Sure never bird was half so vain!
21 But were intrinsic merit seen,
22 We turkeys have the whiter skin.
23 From tongue to tongue they caught abuse;
24 And next was heard the hissing Goose.
25 What hideous legs! what filthy claws!
26 I scorn to censure little flaws.
[Page 39]27 Then what a horrid squawling throat!
28 Ev'n owls are frighted at the note.
29 True. Those are faults, the Peacock crys,
30 My scream, my shanks you may despise:
31 But such blind critics rail in vain.
32 What, overlook my radiant train!
33 Know, did my legs (your scorn and sport)
34 The turkey or the goose support,
35 And did ye scream with harsher sound,
36 Those faults in you had ne'er been found;
37 To all apparent beautys blind,
38 Each blemish strikes an envious mind.
39 Thus in Assemblys have I seen
40 A nymph of brightest charms and mien
41 Wake envy in each ugly face;
42 And buzzing scandal fills the place.
Source edition
Gay, John, 1685-1732. FABLES. By Mr. GAY. London: Printed for J. Tonson and J. Watts, MDCCXXVII., 1727, pp. 37-39. [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 [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 [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. ()