And weigh the power of other creatures
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  Who by the partial work hath shown
  He knows so little of his own? 
  How falsely is the spaniel drawn! 
  Did man from him first learn to fawn? 
  A dog proficient in the trade! 
  He the chief flatterer nature made! 
  Go, man, the ways of courts discern,
  You’ll find a spaniel still might learn. 
  How can the fox’s theft and plunder
  Provoke his censure or his wonder;
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  From courtiers’ tricks, and lawyers’ arts,
  The fox might well improve his parts. 
  The lion, wolf, and tiger’s brood,
  He curses, for their thirst of blood: 
  But is not man to man a prey? 
  Beasts kill for hunger, men for pay.’ 
     The bookseller, who heard him speak,
  And saw him turn a page of Greek,
  Thought, what a genius have I found! 
  Then thus addressed with bow profound: 
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  ’Learn’d sir, if you’d employ your pen
  Against the senseless sons of men,
  Or write the history of Siam, [2]
  No man is better pay than I am;
  Or, since you’re learn’d in Greek, let’s see
  Something against the Trinity.’ 
     When wrinkling with a sneer his trunk,
  ‘Friend,’ quoth the elephant, ’you’re drunk;
  E’en keep your money and be wise: 
  Leave man on man to criticise;
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  For that you ne’er can want a pen
  Among the senseless sons of men. 
  They unprovoked will court the fray: 
  Envy’s a sharper spur than pay. 
  No author ever spared a brother;
  Wits are game-cocks to one another.’

* * * * *

FABLE XI.

THE PEACOCK, THE TURKEY, AND THE GOOSE.

  In beauty faults conspicuous grow;
  The smallest speck is seen on snow. 
     As near a barn, by hunger led,
  A peacock with the poultry fed;
  All viewed him with an envious eye,
  And mocked his gaudy pageantry. 
  He, conscious of superior merit,
  Contemns their base reviling spirit;
  His state and dignity assumes,
  And to the sun displays his plumes;
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  Which, like the heaven’s o’er-arching skies,
  Are spangled with a thousand eyes. 
  The circling rays, and varied light,
  At once confound their dazzled sight: 
  On every tongue detraction burns,
  And malice prompts their spleen by turns. 
     ’Mark, with what insolence and pride
  The creature takes his haughty stride!’
  The turkey cries.  ’Can spleen contain? 
  Sure never bird was half so vain!
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  But were intrinsic merit seen,
  We turkeys have the whiter skin.’ 
     From tongue to tongue they caught abuse;
  And next was heard the hissing goose: 
  ’What hideous legs! what filthy claws! 
  I scorn to censure little flaws! 
  Then what a horrid squalling throat! 
  Even owls are frighted at the note.’