When Pyrrhus toss'd on high his burnish'd blade,"
And offer'd Priam to his father's shade,

Than for the cock the widow'd poultry made.
Fair Partlet, first, when he was borne from sight,
With sov'reign shrieks bewail'd her captive knight;
Far louder than the Carthaginian wife,

711

When Asdrubal, her husband, lost his life,
When she beheld the smould'ring flames ascend,
And all the Punic glories at an end:

Willing, into the fires, she plung'd her head, 715
With greater ease than others seek their bed.
Not more aghast the matrons of renown,
When tyrant Nero burn'd th' imperial town,
Shriek'd, for the downfal, in a doleful cry;
For which their guiltless lords were doom'd to
die.

Now to my story I return again:

720

725

The trembling widow, and her daughters twain,
This woful cackling cry, with horror heard,
Of those distracted damsels in the yard;
And, starting up, beheld the heavy sight;
How Reynard, to the forest, took his flight,
And, cross his back, as in triumphant scorn,
The hope and pillar of the house was borne.
The fox, the wicked fox,' was all the cry;
Out from his house ran every neighbour nigh:
The vicar first, and after him the crew 731
With forks and staves, the felon to pursue.
Ran Coll our dog, and Talbot, with the band,
And Malkin, with her distaff in her hand;

Ran cow and calf, and family of hogs,
In panic horror of pursuing dogs;

735

With many a deadly grunt and doleful squeak,
Poor swine! as if their pretty hearts would break.
The shouts of men-the women in dismay,
With shrieks augment the terror of the day. 740
The ducks that heard the proclamation cry'd,
And fear'd a persecution might betide,

Full twenty mile from town their voyage take,
Obscure, in rushes of the liquid lake.

The geese fly o'er the barn; the bees in arms 745
Drive headlong from their waxen cells in swarms.
Jack Straw at London-stone, with all his rout,
Struck not the city with so loud a shout;
Not when with English hate they did pursue
A Frenchman, or an unbelieving Jew:
Not when the welkin rung with "one and all;"
And echoes bounded back, from Fox's hall:
Earth seem'd to sink beneath; and heaven above
to fall.

750

With might and main, they chac'd the murd❜rous fox,

755

With brazen trumpets, and inflated box,
To kindle Mars with military sounds,
Nor wanted horns t' inspire sagacious hounds.
But see how Fortune can confound the wise,
And, when they least expect it, turn the dice.
The captive-cock, who scarce could draw his breath,
And lay within the very jaws of death;

761

Yet, in this agony,

his fancy wrought,

And fear supply'd him with this happy thought: 'Yours is the prize, victorious prince !' said he,

The vicar, my defeat, and all the village see. 765 Enjoy your friendly fortune while you may; And bid the churls, that envy you

the

prey

Call back their mongrel curs, and cease their See, fools! the shelter of the wood is nigh, [cry; And Chanticleer in your despite shall die, He shall be pluck'd and eaten to the bone,' 771 " 'Tis well advis'd, in faith it shall be done :"This Reynard said: but, as the word he spoke, The pris'ner, with a spring, from prison broke: Then stretch'd his feather'd fans, with all his might, And, to the neighb'ring maple, wing'd his flight;

Whom when the traitor safe on tree beheld, He curs'd the Gods, with shame and sorrow fill'd; Shame for his folly, sorrow out of time, For plotting an unprofitable crime:

780

Yet, mast'ring both, th' artificer of lyes Renews th' assault; and his last battery tries. "Though I," said he, "did ne'er in thought offend, "How justly may my lord suspect his friend! "Th' appearance is against me, I confess, "Who, seemingly, have put you in distress: "You, if your goodness does not plead my cause, May think I broke all hospitable laws,

66

785

"To bear you from your palace-yard by might, "And put your noble person in a fright:

790

"This, since you take it ill, I must repent; “Though, heav'n can witness, with no bad intent, "I practis'd it to make you taste your cheer "With double pleasure, first prepar'd by fear. "So loyal subjects often seize their prince, 795 "Forc'd (for his good) to seeming violence, "Yet mean his sacred person not the least offence. "Descend; so help me Jove, as you shall find “That Reynard comes of no dissembling kind. • Nay,' quoth the cock; but I beshrew us both, If I believe a saint upon his oath : 'An honest man may take a knave's advice, But idiots, only, may be cozen'd twice:

801

• Once warn'd, is well bewar'd; not flattering lies • Shall sooth me more to sing with winking eyes, And open mouth-for fear of catching flies. Who, blindfold, walks upon a river's brim, When he should see,-has he deserv'd to swim ?' "Better, sir cock! let all contention cease;" "Come down;" said Reynard; "let us treat of 66 peace."

A peace with all my soul,' said Chanticleer;

• But, with your favour, I will treat it here:

810

And, lest the truce with treason should be mixt, 'Tis my concern to have the tree betwixt.'

THE MORAL.

In this plain fable you th' effect may see 815 Of negligence, and fond credulity:

And learn, besides, of flatt'rers to beware,
Then, most pernicious, when they speak too fair.

820

The cock and fox, the fool and knave imply;
The truth is moral, though the tale a lye.
Who spoke in parables, I dare not say;
But, sure, he knew, it was a pleasing way,
Sound sense, by plain example, to convey.
And, in a heathen author, we may find,
That pleasure, with instruction, should be join'd;
So take the corn, and leave the chaff behind.