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[Page 74]
[Illustration]
FABLE [22] XXII.
The Goat without a beard.
1 'TIS certain, that the modish passions
2 Descend among the croud, like fashions.
3 Excuse me then; if pride, conceit,
4 (The manners of the fair and great)
5 I give to monkeys, asses, dogs,
6 Fleas, owls, goats, butterflys and hogs.
[Page 75]7 I say, that these are proud. What then?
8 I never said, they equal men.
9 A Goat (as vain as goat can be)
10 Affected singularity:
11 Whene'er a thymy bank he found,
12 He roll'd upon the fragrant ground,
13 And then with fond attention stood,
14 Fix'd, o'er his image in the flood.
15 I hate my frowzy beard, he crys;
16 My youth is lost in this disguise.
17 Did not the females know my vigour,
18 Well might they loath this rev'rend figure.
19 Resolv'd to smooth his shaggy face,
20 He sought the barber of the place.
21 A flippant monkey, spruce and smart,
22 Hard by, profest the dapper art;
23 His pole with pewter basons hung,
24 Black rotten teeth in order strung,
[Page 76]25 Rang'd cups, that in the window stood,
26 Lin'd with red rags, to look like blood,
27 Did well his threefold trade explain,
28 Who shav'd, drew teeth, and breath'd a vein.
29 The Goat he welcomes with an air,
30 And seats him in his wooden chair,
31 Mouth, nose and cheek the lather hides,
32 Light, smooth and swift the razor glides.
33 I hope your custom, Sir, says pug.
34 Sure never face was half so smug!
35 The Goat, impatient for applause,
36 Swift to the neighb'ring hill withdraws;
37 The shaggy people grinn'd and star'd.
38 Heighday! what's here? without a beard!
39 Say, brother, whence the dire disgrace?
40 What envious hand hath robb'd your face?
41 When thus the fop with smiles of scorn.
42 Are beards by civil nations worn?
43 Ev'n Muscovites have mow'd their chins.
44 Shall we, like formal Capucins,
[Page 77]45 Stubborn in pride, retain the mode,
46 And bear about the hairy load?
47 Whene'er we through the village stray,
48 Are we not mock'd along the way,
49 Insulted with loud shouts of scorn,
50 By boys our beards disgrac'd and torn?
51 Were you no more with goats to dwell,
52 Brother, I grant you reason well,
53 Replys a bearded chief. Beside,
54 If boys can mortify thy pride,
55 How wilt thou stand the ridicule
56 Of our whole flock? affected fool!
57 Coxcombs, distinguish'd from the rest,
58 To all but coxcombs are a jest.
Source edition
Gay, John, 1685-1732. FABLES. By Mr. GAY. London: Printed for J. Tonson and J. Watts, MDCCXXVII., 1727, pp. 74-77. [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 [20] XX. The Old Hen and the Cock. ()
- FABLE [21] XXI. The Rat-catcher and Cats. ()
- 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. ()