Fable III. the Just Lion

A FOX impell'd by hunger's cries, Had made a LAMB his sacrifice, When just as ev'ry thing was fit, To revel on his dainty bit, A lordly PANTHER, passing by, Beheld it with voracious eye; And, being nobly born, of course The FOX'S dinner seiz'd by force, With this remark—Tho' peasants starve, PEERS, as they please, should always CARVE.

REYNARD, thro' fear must needs obey, So lick'd his chaps, and slunk away; Yet still tho' not in body strong, His feeling heart would bear no wrong; To LEO'S court with speed he flew, There standing in the Monarch's view, Stated at full th' oppressive case, With simple truth, and piteous face; Concluding thus,—My Prince, I know, Will most impartial justice show; Wherefore, to his decision, I Submit my life, and property; The weak, the nameless, and the poor, Where VIRTUE reigns, must be secure.

The LION heard with honest wonder, And cried, If I permit such plunder, The monarchy of BEASTS will then Degen'rate into that of MEN— But other views shall guide my sway, And ev'ry rank our laws obey.

Summon LORD PANTHER—straight he came— And boldly answer'd to his name; Confess'd the injur'd FOX'S charge, In all its sev'ral points at large; Yet, confidently, seem'd to think, That vulgar creature's meat and drink Should to indulge his want or whim, Just as he chose, belong to HIM.

You know, my LIEGE, continues he, I'm one of noble progeny,— Who, if occasion urg'd me, could Alliance prove to Royal blood— Shall paltry REYNARD dare complain, Nor meet, as sure he ought, disdain? Titles and rank are my defence, But what can save his insolence? For my own part, I am content His crime should be his punishment; Then let him, gracious LIEGE, I pray, This once go unchastis'd away.

The LION, worthy of his place, With sparkling eye, and awful grace, Spoke thus, and bade his court attend— This PANTHER, once my valu'd friend, Convicted, thus, of proud oppression, By evidence, and self-confession, Howe'er he thinks the action light, I banish from my heart, and sight.

Shall Noble Birth from justice save, Shall titles serve to screen a Knave? Shall Subjects be afraid to speak, And shall the strong devour the weak? The chain of prudent order broke, Authority becomes a joke; And thus applied, howe'er sublime, PRE-EMINENCE becomes a CRIME.

It never shall, my friends, be said, When dust entombs this Royal Head, To stain our Name, in future years, That LEO shelter'd lawless PEERS—

Subjects, observe what I decide, To shame, and sting dishonest pride; This PANTHER on the FOX shall wait Six tedious months, in servile state; And when occasion gives the charge, Still watch for prey, or hunt at large; But ne'er presume to taste a bit, 'Till REYNARD graciously thinks fit.

SELF-KNOWLEDGE thus a friend may be, And blunt the edge of TYRANNY; May teach him, that the lordly part Is seated in a noble heart; Which rather would itself endure Some pangs of WANT, than rob the POOR.

If e'er, to shame our laws, and sense, I meet again such violence, Justice shall doom severer fate, To punish the licentious great; Nor will I, mark me, Subjects, own Ought noble, but the Good alone.