1300 As if we were not stock'd with monsters of our own. Led by those great examples, may not I 1305 1310 Others our Hind of folly will indite, To entertain a dangerous guest by night. Let those remember, that she cannot die Till rolling time is lost in round eternity; Nor need she fear the Panther, though untam'd, Because the Lion's peace was now proclaim'd: The wary savage would not give offence, To forfeit the protection of her prince; But watch'd the time her vengeance to complete, When all her furry sons in frequent Senate met; Meanwhile she quench'd her fury at the flood, And with a lenten salad cool'd her blood. Their commons, though but coarse, were nothing scant, Nor did their minds an equal banquet want. For now the Hind, whose noble nature strove To express her plain simplicity of love, Did all the honours of her house so well, 1325 No sharp debates disturb'd the friendly meal. She turn'd the talk, avoiding that extreme, And dropp'd a tear betwixt for her own children's fate. Nor fail'd she then a full review to make 1335 On these, prolixly thankful, she enlarg'd; Is made more sacred by adversity. [say, Now should they part, malicious tongues would 1350 But incense from my hands is poorly priz'd; And sip the sweets, and bask in your great patron's day. 1365 1370 This heard, the matron was not slow to find What sort of malady had seiz'd her mind : Disdain, with gnawing envy, fell despight, And canker'd malice stood in open sight; Ambition, interest, pride without control, And jealousy, the jaundice of the soul; Revenge, the bloody minister of ill, With all the lean tormentors of the will. 'Twas easy now to guess from whence arose Her new-made union with her ancient foes, Her forc'd civilities, her faint embrace, Affected kindness with an alter'd face: Yet durst she not too deeply probe the wound, As hoping still the nobler parts were sound: 1375 But strove with anodynes to assuage the smart, And mildly thus her med'cine did impart. Complaints of lovers help to ease their pain; It shows a rest of kindness to complain; A friendship loth to quit its former hold; And conscious merit may be justly bold. But much more just your jealousy would show, If others' good were injury to you : 1380 1373 Affected kindness with an alter'd face] And harsh unkindness' alter'd eye.' Gray. J. W. 1385 Witness, ye heavens, how I rejoice to see 1395 [till'd; The labour'd earth your pains have sow'd and 'Tis just you reap the product of the field; Your's be the harvest, 'tis the beggar's gain To glean the fallings of the loaded wain. Such scatter'd ears as are not worth your care, Your charity, for alms, may safely spare, For alms are but the vehicles of prayer. My daily bread is literally implor'd; I have no barns nor granaries to hoard, If Cæsar to his own his hand extends, Say which of yours his charity offends: You know he largely gives to more than are his friends. Are you defrauded when he feeds the poor? I am but few, and by your fare you see Some juster motive sure your mind withdraws, 1400. 1405 And makes you break our friendship's holy laws; For barefac'd envy is too base a cause. 1415 Show more occasion for your discontent; Your love, the Wolf, would help you to invent : Some German quarrel, or, as times go now, Some French, where force is uppermost, will do. When at the fountain's head, as merit ought To claim the place, you take a swilling draught, How easy 'tis an envious eye to throw, And tax the sheep for troubling streams below; Or call her (when no farther cause you find) An enemy profess'd of all your kind. But then, perhaps, the wicked world would think The Wolf design'd to eat as well as drink. This last allusion gall'd the Panther more, 1425 Because indeed it rubb'd upon the sore. Yet seem'd she not to winch, though shrewdly pain'd: But thus her passive character maintain'd. I never grudg'd, whate'er my foes report, On this firm principle I ever stood; 1430 1435 He of my sons who fails to make it good, 1440 |