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[Page 121]
[Illustration]
FABLE [36] XXXVI.
Pythagoras and the Countryman.
1 Pythag'ras rose at early dawn.
2 By soaring meditation drawn,
3 To breathe the fragrance of the day,
4 Through flow'ry fields he took his way;
5 In musing contemplation warm,
6 His steps mis-led him to a farm,
[Page 122]7 Where, on the ladder's topmost round
8 A Peasant stood; the hammer's sound
9 Shook the weak barn. Say, friend, what care
10 Calls for thy honest labour there?
11 The Clown with surly voice replies.
12 Vengeance aloud for justice cries:
13 This kite, by daily rapine fed,
14 My hen's annoy, my turkey's dread,
15 At length his forfeit life hath paid;
16 See, on the wall his wings display'd,
17 Here nail'd, a terror to his kind,
18 My fowls shall future safety find,
19 My yard the thriving poultry feed,
20 And my barn's refuse fat the breed.
21 Friend, says the Sage, the doom is wise,
22 For publick good the murd'rer dies;
23 But if these tyrants of the air
24 Demand a sentence so severe,
25 Think how the glutton man devours;
26 What bloody feasts regale his hours!
[Page 123]27 O impudence of power and might,
28 Thus to condemn a hawk or kite,
29 When thou perhaps, carniv'rous sinner,
30 Hadst pullets yesterday for dinner!
31 Hold, cry'd the Clown, with passion heated,
32 Shall kites and men alike be treated?
33 When Heav'n the world with creatures stor'd,
34 Man was ordain'd their sov'raign lord.
35 Thus tyrants boast, the Sage reply'd,
36 Whose murders spring from power and pride.
37 Own then this manlike kite is slain
38 Thy greater lux'ry to sustain;
39 For*
* Garth's Dispensary.
petty rogues submit to fate40 That great ones may enjoy their state.
Source edition
Gay, John, 1685-1732. FABLES. By Mr. GAY. London: Printed for J. Tonson and J. Watts, MDCCXXVII., 1727, pp. 121-123. [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 [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 [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. ()