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[Page 50]
[Illustration]
FABLE [15] XV.
The Philosopher and the Pheasants.
1 The Sage, awak'd at early day,
2 Through the deep forest took his way;
3 Drawn by the musick of the groves,
4 Along the winding gloom he roves;
5 From tree to tree, the warbling throats
6 Prolong the sweet alternate notes.
[Page 51]7 But where he past he terror threw,
8 The song broke short, the warblers flew,
9 The thrushes chatter'd with affright,
10 And nightingales abhorr'd his sight;
11 All animals before him ran
12 To shun the hateful sight of man.
13 Whence is this dread of ev'ry creature?
14 Fly they our figure or our nature?
15 As thus he walk'd in musing thought,
16 His ear imperfect accents caught;
17 With cautious step he nearer drew,
18 By the thick shade conceal'd from view:
19 High on the branch a Pheasant stood,
20 Around her all her list'ning brood,
21 Proud of the blessings of her nest,
22 She thus a mother's care exprest.
23 No dangers here shall circumvent,
24 Within the woods enjoy content.
25 Sooner the hawk or vulture trust
26 Than man; of animals the worst;
[Page 52]27 In him ingratitude you find,
28 A vice peculiar to the kind.
29 The sheep, whose annual fleece is dy'd,
30 To guard his health, and serve his pride,
31 Forc'd from his fold and native plain,
32 Is in the cruel shambles slain.
33 The swarms, who, with industrious skill,
34 His hives with wax and honey fill,
35 In vain whole summer days employ'd,
36 Their stores are sold, the race destroy'd.
37 What tribute from the goose is paid!
38 Does not her wing all science aid?
39 Does it not lovers hearts explain,
40 And drudge to raise the merchant's gain?
41 What now rewards this general use?
42 He takes the quills and eats the goose.
43 Man then avoid, detest his ways,
44 So safety shall prolong your days.
45 When services are thus acquitted,
46 Be sure we pheasants must be spitted.
Source edition
Gay, John, 1685-1732. FABLES. By Mr. GAY. London: Printed for J. Tonson and J. Watts, MDCCXXVII., 1727, pp. 50-52. [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 [14] XIV. The Monkey who had seen the World. ()
- 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. ()