you taste

your Cheer

This, since you take it ill, I must repent,
Though, Heav’n can witness, with no bad Intent;
I practis'd it, to make
With double Pleasure, first prepar'd by fear.
So loyal Subjects often seize their Prince,
Forc'd (for his Good) to seeming Violence,
Yet mean his facred 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 will be cozen'd twice :
Once warn’d is well bewar'd: Not flatt’ring Lies
Shall footh 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 Peace.
A Peace with all my Soul, said Chanticleer;
But, with your Favour, I will treat it here:

,

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And least the Truce with Treason should be mixt, 'Tis my concern to have the Tree betwixt. .

The MORA L.

may see

:

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In this plain Fable

you th’Effeet Of Negligence, and fond Credulity: And learn besides 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 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.

Theodore and Honoria.

FROM

В B 0 C C Ä C E.

СЕ

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:

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Fair as the Fairest, but of haughty Mind,
And fiercer than became so soft a Kind;
Proud of her Birth ; (for Equal she had none ;)
The rest she scorn’d; but hated him alone.
His Gifts, his constant Courtship, nothing gain'd;
For she, the more he lov’d, the more disdain'd:
He liv'd with all the Pomp he cou'd devise,
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 said:
Nor Pray’rs, nor Tears, nor offer'd Vows

could move; The Work went backward; and the more he strove T'advance his Sute, the farther from her Love.

Weary'd at length, and wanting Remedy, He doubted oft, and oft resolu'd to die. Bút 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 pass’d, his next Endeavour was to Hate.

Bu vainer that Relief than all the rest, The less he hop'd with more Defire possess’d; Love stood the Siege, and would not yield his

Breast. Change was the next,butChange deceiv'd his care; He fought a Fairer, but found none so Fair. He would have worn her out by flow degrees, As Men by fasting starve th' untam'd Disease: But present Love requir'd a present Ease. Looking he feeds alone his familh'd Eyes, Feeds lingring Death, but looking not he dies. Yet still he chose the longest way to Fate, Wasting at once his Life, and his Eftate.

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 save 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, struggling with his own Desires, he went:

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