LESSONS FOlt THE LITERATI. 685 



And if you dare for any cause 



To make me subject to your laws, 



Then be the peril on your head, 



For, look you, I'm a quadruped/ 



When, 'mongst my vassals, he'll complain 



Of the excesses of your reign ; 



And when with you he lives, he showers 



All sorts of calumnies on ours." 



" Tis well," the lion said, " I swear 



He never more shall breathe the air 



Of my dominions." " Nor of mine, 



I vow by all my royal line." 



Since then, an exiled outcast grown, 



We see the bat by night alone, 



For neither quadruped nor bird 



Will now with srch a comrade herd. 



Ye literary bats, who strive, 

 Deceiving all with all to live, 

 To wear the hide and feather too, 

 This fable I inscribe to you. 



THE ASS AND HIS MASTER. 



*' THE blockhead public values still 

 At the same worth both good and ill ; 

 My pen the taste depraved obeys, 

 And writes its worst secure of praise." 

 A playright, of the lowest station, 

 Poured forth one day this declamation, 

 Excusing, under such pretence, 

 His own defects and want of sense ; 

 But a shrewd poet who was nigh, 

 Approached, and made him this reply :-r- 

 te A man, I know not what his class, 

 Or rich, or poor, possessed an ass ; 

 He made him bear, he made him draw, 

 But gave him nought to eat but straw, 

 And, as he gatre it, always cried, 

 ' Eat, since with this you're satisfied/ 

 The patient beast bore all awhile-r 

 At length, his master roused his bile ; 

 So oft the self-same thing declaring, 

 'Twas e'en beyond an ass's bearing: 

 So as he took his straw one day, 

 He thus with boldness said his say : 

 " I eat, because I wish to live* 

 Whatever you may choose to give ; 

 But why th' unjust conclusion draw 

 That therefore I prefer your straw ? 

 Give me some corn to nibble at, 

 And see if I don't relish that." 



Beware, ye authors, how ye blame 

 The public taste, to veil your shame : 

 You give her straw, perforce she chews it, 

 Try her with corn she'll not refuse it. R' A. 



M.M. No. 108. 4 T 



