This, fince you take it ill, I must repent,
Though, Heav'n can witness, with no bad Intent;
I practis'd it, to make you tafte your Cheer
With double Pleasure, first prepar'd by fear.
So loyal Subjects often feize their Prince,
Forc'd (for his Good) to feeming Violence,
Yet mean his facred Perfon not the least Offence.
Defcend; fo help me Jove as you shall find
That Reynard comes of no diffembling Kind.
Nay, quoth the Cock; but I befhrew us both
If I believe a Saint upon his Oath:
An honest Man may take a Knave's Advice,
But Idiots only will be cozen'd twice :
Once warn'd is well bewar'd: Not flatt'ring Lies
Shall footh me more to fing with winking Eyes,
And open Mouth, for fear of catching Flies.
Who blindfold walks upon a River's Brim
When he should fee, has he deferv'd to swim?
Better, Sir Cock, let all Contention cease,
Come down, faid Reynard, let us treat of Peace.
A Peace with all my Soul, faid Chanticleer;
But, with your Favour, I will treat it here:
And leaft the Truce with Treason should be mixt, 'Tis my concern to have the Tree betwixt.
In this plain Fable you th' Effect may fee
Of Negligence, and fond Credulity:
And learn befides of Flatt'rers to beware,
Then most pernicious when they speak too fair.
The Cock and Fox, the Fool and Knave imply;
The Truth is moral, though the Tale a Lie.
Who spoke in Parables, I dare not fay;
But fure, he knew it was a pleafing way,
Sound Senfe, by plain Example, to convey.
And in a Heathen Author we may find,
That Pleasure with Instruction fhould be join'd
So take the Corn, and leave the Chaff behind.
F all the Cities in Romanian Lands,
The chief, and most renown'd Ra-
venna stands :
Adorn'd in ancient Times with Arms and Arts,
And rich Inhabitants, with generous Hearts.
But Theodore the Brave, above the rest,
With Gifts of Fortune and of Nature bless’d,
The foremost Place for Wealth and Honour held,
And all in Feats of Chivalry excell’d.
This noble Youth to Madness lov'd a Dame, Of high Degree, Honoria was her Name:
Fair as the Faireft, but of haughty Mind,
And fiercer than became fo soft a Kind;
Proud of her Birth; (for Equal she had none;)
The reft fhe fcorn'd; but hated him alone.
His Gifts, his conftant Courtship, nothing gain'd;
For fhe, the more he lov'd, the more disdain'd:
He liv'd with all the Pomp he cou'd devife,
At Tilts and Turnaments obtain❜d the Prize,
But found no Favour in his Lady's Eyes:
Relentless as a Rock, the lofty Maid
Turn'd all to Poyson that he did, or faid:
Nor Pray'rs, nor Tears, nor offer'd Vows
could move;
The Work went backward; and the more he ftrovel T'advance his Sute, the farther from her Love.
Weary'd at length, and wanting Remedy,
He doubted oft, and oft refolv'd to die.
But Pride stood ready to prevent the Blow,
For who would die to gratifie a Foe?
His gen'rous Mind disdain'd so mean a Fate;
That pafs'd, his next Endeavour was to Hate.
Bu vainer that Relief than all the rest,
The less he hop'd with more Defire poffefs'd;
Love stood the Siege, and would not yield his
Breast.
Change was the next,but Change deceiv'd his care;
He fought a Fairer, but found none fo Fair.
He would have worn her out by flow degrees,
As Men by fafting starve th' untam'd Disease:
But present Love requir'd a prefent Ease.
Looking he feeds alone his famish'd Eyes,
Feeds lingring Death, but looking not he dies.
Yet ftill he chose the longest way to Fate,
Wafting at once his Life, and his Estate.
His Friends beheld, and pity'd him in vain,
For what Advice can ease a Lover's Pain!
Absence, the best Expedient they could find
Might fave the Fortune, if not cure the Mind:
This Means they long propos'd, but little gain'd,
Yet after much Pursuit, at length obtain❜d.
Hard, you may think it was, to give Consent, But, ftruggling with his own Defires, he went:
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