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 THE BEAR, THE APE, AND THE PIG. 



FROM THE SPANISH OF TRIARTE. 



A BEAR, whose gambols earn'd his master's food, 



(A Piedmontese, who from the Pole had brought him), 



One day upon his hind-legs gaily stood, 

 And danced a minuet that had been taught him. 



At length being tir'd, to an ape advancing, 

 (A connoisseur), said he " I should be glad 



To have your cool opinion of my dancing." 

 The ape replied, " Indeed, 'tis very bad." 



" Pshaw," said the bear, "you have not done me justice, 



You did not mark my elegance of mien ; 

 I trip so lightly, that the very dust is 



Scarcely disturb'd, and that you might have seen." 



At this a pig, who likewise had been gazing 

 On the performance, to the ape made answer, 



" Your want of taste is certainly amazing, 

 I never saw so beautiful a dancer." 



Now vanity a medium most dense is, 



Yet by the pig these words were scarcely utter'd, 

 Than they pierc'd through to Bruin's better senses, 



He commun'd with himself, and thus he mutter'd 



" I must confess the ape's reproof did raise 

 Some doubts within me of the skill I had ; 



But now the pig has given me his praise, 

 1 am convinc'd my dancing must be bad !" 



Ye authors, let this just reflection haunt ye 

 Learn ye the truth this fable doth rehearse ; 



A wise man's blame is bad enough I grant ye, 

 But a fool's praise is infinitely worse. 





THE VIPER AND THE LEECH. 



FROM THE SPANISH OF TRIARTE. 



" How is it, dearest ?" of the harmless Leech 



Enquir'd the Viper, " Since 'tis doubtless true, 

 That the same qualities belong to each, 



That I bite when I can, and so do you : 

 " Yet man, unjust and inconsistent still, 



Differs in treatment of the two so much ? 

 He suffers you to bite him at your will, 



Yet starts and shudders at my slightest touch.'' 



" Both bite," replied the Leech " this much you're right in ; 

 But there's some difference in our modes of biting : 

 My mouth the dying man to health restores, 

 While the most healthy dies if touched by your's." 



Learn from this fable, readers, then, and writers, 

 That though all critics certainly are biters, 

 Yet, that a very wide distinction runs, 

 Between the useful and malignant ones. 



