The fables of young Æsop, with their morals with a moral history of his life and death, illustrated with forty curious cuts applicable to each fable.
Aesop., Harris, Benjamin, d. 1716?
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20. The Parliament of Bees.

[illustration]

THe Bees, in Parliament, agree
To chuse themselves a King,
To make such Laws, as Liberty
And Property may bring.
At length they to a Royal be,
Do make a grievous Moan,
Imploring him their King to be,
To sit upon the Throne.
Which done, some idle Drones contrive
Their lawful King to Slay,
Because he had preserv'd their Hives
From all the Beasts of Prey;
But in the very int'rim they were took,
And justly hang'd on a Triangle Hook.
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The MORAL.

MOnarchy! Thou Witchcraft of Felicity, and Enemy to a State free from the pale Cabals of Blood and Slaughter; in thy Bowels are Vipers, and on thy Brest Vultures! Kings that should be most free from Danger, move as if every step they took were in the Dark; and are (if not Hated) Envied by all. The Courts of Princes, are full of Minions, Parasites, and Favourites, Conspirators in the Palace, and Regicides in the Bed-Chamber; with innumerable Emmissaries without. And though Mor∣tals have universally Consented to the Punishment of Treason, yet they will in∣dulge themselves therein, though they see Quarters expos'd to view on the Ci∣ty-Gates. For my part, I do not love to imbrew my Hands in the Blood of any Creature, especially in the Blood of that Monarch, who hath restor'd me Liber∣ty and Property, unto whom I owe Sub∣jection. Nor is it consistent with Na∣ture, that the Feet should kick against the Head, because it's Elivated above all the other Parts of the Body, and Go∣verns the same.