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[Illustration]
FABLE [48] XLVIII.
The Gardener and the Hog.
1 A Gard'ner, of peculiar taste,
2 On a young Hog his favour plac'd,
3 Who fed not with the common herd,
4 His tray was to the hall preferr'd,
5 He wallow'd underneath the board,
6 Or in his master's chamber snor'd,
[Page 164]7 Who fondly stroak'd him ev'ry day,
8 And taught him all the puppy's play;
9 Where'er he went, the grunting friend
10 Ne'er fail'd his pleasure to attend.
11 As on a time, the loving pair
12 Walk'd forth to tend the garden's care,
13 The master thus addrest the swine.
14 My house, my garden, all is thine:
15 On turnips feast whene'er you please,
16 And riot in my beans and pease,
17 If the potatoe's taste delights,
18 Or the red carrot's sweet invites,
19 Indulge thy morn and evening hours,
20 But let due care regard my flowers;
21 My tulips are my garden's pride.
22 What vast expence those beds supply'd!
23 The Hog by chance one morning roam'd
24 Where with new ale the vessels foam'd;
25 He munches now the steaming grains,
26 Now with full swill the liquor drains;
[Page 165]27 Intoxicating fumes arise,
28 He reels, he rolls his winking eyes,
29 Then stagg'ring through the garden scowers,
30 And treads down painted ranks of flowers,
31 With delving snout he turns the soil,
32 And cools his palate with the spoil.
33 The Master came, the ruin spy'd.
34 Villain, suspend thy rage, he cry'd:
35 Hast thou, thou most ungrateful sot,
36 My charge, my only charge forgot?
37 What, all my flowers! No more he said,
38 But gaz'd, and sigh'd, and hung his head.
39 The Hog with stutt'ring speech returns.
40 Explain, Sir, why your anger burns;
41 See there, untouch'd your tulips strown,
42 For I devour'd the roots alone!
43 At this, the Gard'ner's passion grows;
44 From oaths and threats he fell to blows;
45 The stubborn brute the blows sustains,
46 Assaults his leg and tears the veins.
47 Ah, foolish swain, too late you find
48 That sties were for such friends design'd!
49 Homeward he limps with painful pace,
50 Reflecting thus on past disgrace;
51 Who cherishes a brutal mate
52 Shall mourn the folly soon or late.
Source edition
Gay, John, 1685-1732. FABLES. By Mr. GAY. London: Printed for J. Tonson and J. Watts, MDCCXXVII., 1727, pp. 163-166. [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 [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 [49] XLIX. The Man and the Flea. ()
- FABLE [50] L. The Hare and many Friends. ()