[Page 40]
[Illustration]
FABLE [12] XII.
Cupid, Hymen, and Plutus.
1 As Cupid in Cythera's grove
2 Employ'd the lesser powers of love,
3 Some shape the bow, or fit the string,
4 Some give the taper shaft its wing,
5 Or turn the polish'd quiver's mold,
6 Or head the darts with temper'd gold.
7 Amidst their toil and various care,
8 Thus Hymen, with assuming air,
[Page 41]9 Addrest the God. Thou purblind chit,
10 Of aukward and ill-judging wit,
11 If matches are no better made,
12 At once I must forswear my trade.
13 You send me such ill-coupled folks,
14 That 'tis a shame to sell them yokes.
15 They squabble for a pin, a feather,
16 And wonder how they came together.
17 The husband's sullen, dogged, shy,
18 The wife grows flippant in reply;
19 He loves command and due restriction,
20 And she as well likes contradiction;
21 She never slavishly submits,
22 She'll have her will, or have her fits;
23 He this way tugs, she t'other draws,
24 The man grows jealous, and with cause,
25 Nothing can save him but divorce,
26 And here the wife complys of course.
27 When, says the Boy, had I to do
28 With either your affairs or you?
[Page 42]29 I never idly spend my darts;
30 You trade in mercenary hearts:
31 For settlements the lawyer's fee'd;
32 Is my hand witness to the Deed?
33 If they like cat and dog agree,
34 Go rail at Plutus, not at me.
35 Plutus appear'd, and said; 'Tis true,
36 In marriage, gold is all their view;
37 They seek not beauty, wit or sense,
38 And love is seldom the pretence.
39 All offer incense at my shrine,
40 And I alone the bargain sign.
41 How can Belinda blame her fate?
42 She only ask'd a great estate.
43 Doris was rich enough, 'tis true,
44 Her Lord must give her title too;
45 And ev'ry man, or rich or poor,
46 A fortune asks, and asks no more.
47 Av'rice, whatever shape it bears,
48 Must still be coupled with its cares.
Source edition
Gay, John, 1685-1732. FABLES. By Mr. GAY. London: Printed for J. Tonson and J. Watts, MDCCXXVII., 1727, pp. 40-42. [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 [11] XI. The Peacock, the Turkey, and Goose. ()
- 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. ()