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FABLE [14] XIV.
The Monkey who had seen the World.
1 A Monkey, to reform the times,
2 Resolv'd to visit foreign climes;
3 For men in distant regions roam
4 To bring politer manners home:
5 So forth he fares, all toil defys;
6 Misfortune serves to make us wise.
7 At length the treach'rous snare was laid,
8 Poor Pug was caught, to town convey'd,
9 There sold; (How envy'd was his doom,
10 Made captive in a lady's room!)
11 Proud as a lover of his chains,
12 He day by day her favour gains.
13 Whene'er the duty of the day,
14 The toilette calls; with mimic play
15 He twirles her knots, he cracks her fan,
16 Like any other gentleman.
17 In visits too his parts and wit,
18 When jests grew dull, were sure to hit.
19 Proud with applause, he thought his mind
20 In ev'ry courtly art refin'd,
21 Like Orpheus burnt with publick zeal,
22 To civilize the monkey weal;
23 So watch'd occasion, broke his chain,
24 And sought his native woods again.
25 The hairy sylvans round him press,
26 Astonish'd at his strut and dress,
[Page 48]27 Some praise his sleeve, and others glote
28 Upon his rich embroider'd coat,
29 His dapper perriwig commending
30 With the black tail behind depending,
31 His powder'd back, above, below,
32 Like hoary frosts, or fleecy snow;
33 But all, with envy and desire,
34 His flutt'ring shoulder-knot admire.
35 Hear and improve, he pertly crys,
36 I come to make a nation wise;
37 Weigh your own worth; support your place,
38 The next in rank to human race.
39 In citys long I pass'd my days,
40 Convers'd with men, and learnt their ways:
41 Their dress, their courtly manners see;
42 Reform your state, and copy me.
43 Seek ye to thrive? In flatt'ry deal,
44 Your scorn, your hate, with that conceal;
45 Seem only to regard your friends,
46 But use them for your private ends,
[Page 49]47 Stint not to truth the flow of wit,
48 Be prompt to lye, whene'er 'tis fit;
49 Bend all your force to spatter merit;
50 Scandal is conversation's spirit;
51 Boldly to ev'ry thing pretend,
52 And men your talents shall commend;
53 I knew the Great. Observe me right,
54 So shall you grow like man polite.
55 He spoke and bow'd. With mutt'ring jaws
56 The wondring circle grinn'd applause.
57 Now warm with malice, envy, spite,
58 Their most obliging friends they bite,
59 And fond to copy human ways,
60 Practise new mischiefs all their days.
61 Thus the dull lad, too tall for school,
62 With travel finishes the fool,
63 Studious of ev'ry coxcomb's airs,
64 He drinks, games, dresses, whores and swears,
65 O'erlooks with scorn all virtuous arts,
66 For vice is fitted to his parts.
Source edition
Gay, John, 1685-1732. FABLES. By Mr. GAY. London: Printed for J. Tonson and J. Watts, MDCCXXVII., 1727, pp. 46-49. [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 [12] XII. Cupid, Hymen, and Plutus. ()
- FABLE [13] XIII. The tame Stag. ()
- 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. ()