LESSONS FOR THE LITERATI. 127 



" My friends, before ye I do here protest, 



To all and yet to none my censures turn'd, 

 They wake resentment in a guilty breast, 



But he who's blameless, hears them unconcern 'd." 

 My fables, to the reader be it known, 

 Speak to the world, and not to Spain alone, 

 Nor of these times alone, since they pourtray 

 Defects that have been always, as to-day; 

 And since their lessons are addressed to all, 

 And not intended to be personal, 

 He who applies them to himself, I say, 

 Let him digest their moral as he may. 



THE PARROT, THE JAY, AND THE MAGPIE. 



A JAY who heard a parrot speaking, 

 Instead of man's instruction seeking 

 To learn the idiom, preferr'd 

 The lessons of the ill-taught bird: 

 And, after only one rehearsal, 

 Thinking her words and accents terse all, 

 Believ'd she had no more to learn, 

 And taught the magpie in her turn. 

 As for the magpie, she, they say, 

 Acquir'd about as much as they 

 Who strive to gain their information 

 From a base copy or translation. 



THE DRONES AND THE BEE. 



THE drones one day were seen in swarms together, 



With their united genius contriving 

 To raise their character, debating whether 



They might not hide their slothful way of living. 



To wipe away this stain upon their race, 

 Which from all other animals did part "em, 



E'en the most worthless swore to mend apace, 

 And work at honey-combs, " secundum artem." 



But then, hard labour was so disagreeable, 

 And, having no experience to rely on, 



They soon discover'd they should never be able 

 Thus to obtain the end they had their eye on. 



So they resolv'd to seek a ruin'd hive, 



And taking up the dead bee's skeleton, (he 



Had been much renown'd while yet alive 

 For manufacturing the best of honey,) 



To pay him funeral honours, and to sing 



Above his grave this panegyric glorious 

 That to make wax was meritorious, 



And to make honey was a noble thing ! 

 Priding themselves upon the thought, they hence 



Raised such a buzzing, that at length a bee, 

 Piqued at their folly and impertinence, 



Resolv'd to lecture them, and thus said he : 



