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FABLE [20] XX.
The Old Hen and the Cock.
1 REstrain your child; you'll soon believe
2 The text, which says, we sprung from Eve.
3 As an old Hen led forth her train,
4 And seem'd to peck to show the grain;
5 She rak'd the chaff, she scratch'd the ground,
6 And glean'd the spacious yard around.
7 A giddy chick, to try her wings,
8 On the well's narrow margin springs,
[Page 68]9 And prone she drops. The mother's breast
10 All day with sorrow was possest.
11 A Cock she met; her son she knew,
12 And in her heart affection grew.
13 My son, says she, I grant your years
14 Have reach'd beyond a mother's cares;
15 I see you vig'rous, strong and bold,
16 I hear with joy your triumphs told;
17 'Tis not from cocks thy fate I dread:
18 But let thy ever-wary tread
19 Avoid yon well; that fatal place
20 Is sure perdition to our race.
21 Print this my counsel on thy breast;
22 To the just Gods I leave the rest.
23 He thank'd her care; yet day by day
24 His bosom burn'd to disobey,
25 And every time the well he saw
26 Scorn'd in his heart the foolish law;
27 Near and more near each day he drew,
28 And long'd to try the dang'rous view.
29 Why was this idle charge? he crys:
30 Let courage female fears despise.
31 Or did she doubt my heart was brave,
32 And therefore this injunction gave?
33 Or does her harvest store the place,
34 A treasure for her younger race?
35 And would she thus my search prevent?
36 I stand resolv'd, and dare th' event.
37 Thus said. He mounts the margin's round,
38 And prys into the depth profound.
39 He stretch'd his neck; and from below
40 With stretching neck advanc'd a foe;
41 With wrath his ruffled plumes he rears,
42 The foe with ruffled plumes appears;
43 Threat answer'd threat, his fury grew,
44 Headlong to meet the war he flew;
45 But when the watry death he found,
46 He thus lamented, as he drown'd.
47 I ne'er had been in this condition
48 But for my mother's prohibition.
Source edition
Gay, John, 1685-1732. FABLES. By Mr. GAY. London: Printed for J. Tonson and J. Watts, MDCCXXVII., 1727, pp. 67-69. [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 [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 [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. ()