Aesop at Tunbridge, or, A few select fables in verse by no person of quality.

FAB. V. Of the Horse and Man.

A Fierce wild Boar, of monstrous size and force, Did once, in early days, affront a Horse; Who meditating Vengeance, found his Will To hurt, much greater than his Power and Skill; And therefore, chaf'd and resolute, he ran To the next House, and thus apply'd to Man. I come, Superiour Power, whom Iove hath made His Substitute on Earth, to seek thy Aid, Against a sordid Brute, who injures me, And likewise speaks contemptibly of Thee. Iove, whom thou nam'st (said Man) was to thee kind, And sent thee where thou shalt Assistance find. But this injurious Boar will never meet Our Arms upon the Plain, but trusts his Feet▪

But shall his Feet then his Protection be, Since Swiftness is the Gift of Iove to thee? (Mark it, my Friend, this Insolence Deprives us of our common Sense.) This doubtless he forgot; so will not we. You, for Convenience, will a while submit To be directed with a Bridle and Bitt; And take me on your Back, till we shall see This your outragious Enemy. Up, said the Horse then, let us never rest, Till we have found this cursed Beast. Away then to the Woods they flew, The Horse his Haunts and Coverts knew, And there his Foe, the dextrous Warriour slew. This done, they jocund homewards make▪ And thus the Horse the Man bespake. Now, Sir, accept my Thanks for what is past, I to my wonted Fields, and Friends must hast.

Hold, quoth the Man, we part not quite so soon; Your Business is, but Mine is not yet done. Some Service there remains, due to the Aid I lent you, which must be repaid. This said, he light, and ty'd him to a Rack; Where the poor Creature, thus with Sorrow spake. Slight was the Injury of the Boar, And might, perhaps, have been no more: But now I'm utterly undone, My Ease and Liberty are gone.

Sweet is Revenge, just in the Taste, But surely Bitterness at last. Let other Creatures warning take, What Bargains they in Passion make. Let Nations also take good care, That they with many Hardships bear, Rather than seek Redress abroad; Which is but adding to their Load.