I'll fpare the queftion, and confefs
I'd praise you, if I lov'd you lefs.
But rail, be angry, or complain,
I will be rude, while you are vain.

Change now your voice to a note a little higher. Be quite easy in your utterance, which we cannot too frequently recommend in reading thefe kind of compofitions.

Beneath a lion's peaceful reign,

When beasts met friendly on the plain,
A panther, of majestic port,

(The vaineft female of the court)
With spotted fkin, and eyes of fire,
Fill'd ev'ry bofom with defire.
Where'er the mov'd, a fervile crowd
Of fawning creatures cring'd and bow'd:
Affemblies ev'ry week 'fhe held

(Like modern belles) with coxcombs fill'd;
Where noife, and nonfenfe, and grimace,
And lies, and fcandal, fill'd the place.
Behold the gay, fantastic thing,
Encircled by the spacious ring!
Low-bowing with important look,

As first in rank, the monkey spoke:

Throw as much variety into what follows as your judg.

ment thinks advisable.

"Gad take me, Madam! but I fwear,
"No angel ever look'd fo fair:

"For

"Forgive my rudeness, but I vow "You were not quite divine till now; "Thofe limbs! that shape! and then those eyes! "O close them, or the gazer dies!"

"Nay, gentle Pug, for goodness, hufh,
"I vow and fwear you make me blush;
"I fhall be angry at this rate;
""Tis fo like flatt'ry, which I hate."
The fox, in deeper cunning vers'd,
The beauties of her mind rehears'd,
And talk'd of knowledge, tafte, and fenfe,
To which the fair have vast pretence!
Yet well he knew them always vain
Of what they ftrive not to attain;
And play'd fo cunningly his part,
That pug was rivall'd in his art.

The goat avow'd his am'rous flame,
And burnt-for what he durft not name;;
Yet hop'd a meeting in the wood
Might make his meaning understood.
Half angry at the bold address,
She frown'd, and yet fhe muft confefs
Such beauties might inflame his blood,
But still his phrase was somewhat rude..
The hog her neatness much admir'd;
The formal afs her fwiftnefs fir'd:
While all to feed her folly ftrove,

And by their praifes fhar'd her love.

The horse, whofe gen'rous heart difdain'd

Applaufe, by fervile flatt'ry gain'd,

With

With graceful courage filence broke,
And thus with indignation spoke:

Read the following lines with fome degree of point and energy.

"When flatt'ring monkeys fawn and prate,
"They justly raise contempt or hate;
"For merit's turn'd to ridicule,
"Applauded by the grinning fool.
"The artful fox your wit commends,
"To lure you to his selfish ends;
;
"From the vile flattery turn away,
"For knaves make friendships to betray.
"Difmifs the train of fops and fools,
"And learn to live by wisdom's rules;
"Such beauties might the lion warm,
"Did not your folly break the charm;
"For who would court that lovely shape,
"To be the rival of an ape?"

He faid, and, fnorting in difdain,
Spurn'd at the crowd, and fought the plain.

THE NIGHTINGALE AND GLOW-WORM.

THE prudent nymph, whose cheeks disclose

The lily and the blufhing rofe,

From public view her charms will screen,
And rarely in the crowd be feen;

This fimple truth fhall keep her wife
"The fairest fruits attract the flies."

The last line exprefs emphatically.

One night, a glow-worn, proud and vain,
Contemplating her glitt'ring train,

Cried, "Sure there never was in nature

In a manner expreffive of affectation and contempt.

"So elegant, fo fine a creature.

"All other infects that I fee,

"The frugal ant, industrious bee,

"Or filk-worm, with contempt I view;

"With all that low, mechanic crew,

"Who fervilely their lives employ
"In business, enemy to joy.

"Mean, vulgar herd! ye are my scorn;
"For grandeur only I was born,
"Or fure am fprung from race divine,
"And plac'd on earth to live and shine.
"Thofe lights that fparkle fo on high,
"Are but the glow-worms of the sky;
"And kings on earth their gems admire,
"Because they imitate my fire."

She spoke. Attentive on a spray,
A nightingale forbore his lay;
He saw the fhining morsel near,
And flew, directed by the glare;
Awhile he gaz'd with sober look,
And thus the trembling prey befpoke:

Speak

Speak the remainder (as the moral effect of the fable is therein contained) with deliberation and care,

"Deluded fool, with pride elate!
"Know 'tis thy beauty brings thy fate:
"Less dazzling, long thou might'st have lain
"Unheeded, on the velvet plain:

"Pride, foon or late, degraded mourns,
"And beauty wrecks whom she adorns."

THE GOOSE AND THE SWANS..

I HATE the face, however fair,
That carries an affected air;

The lifping tone, the fhape constrain'd,
The studied look, the paffion feign'd,
Are fopperies, which only tend
To injure what they strive to mend,

With what fuperior grace enchants
The face, which nature's pencil paints!
Where eyes, unexercis'd in art,

Glow with the meaning of the heart!
Where freedom and good humour fit,
And eafy gaiety and wit;

Tho' perfect beauty be not there,
The mafter lines, the finifh'd air,

We catch from ev'ry look delight,
And grow enamour'd at the fight:

For