Moral and political fables, ancient and modern done into measured prose intermixed with ryme by Dr. Walter Pope.

FAB. XCIX. The Cat, Cock and Mouse.

A Wealthy Mouse, had her dear Husband lost, And all her numerous Progeny, but one, By open force, or stratagems o'th' Cat, To breed this only Child was her chief care To see him Married, and the Estate Intaild, Which had been many Ages in that Name, Upon his Heirs, in lawful Wedlock got; She never let him budge out of her sight,

With him she went to School, with him to play, With him she dind, and suppd, and slept all day. Tir'd with so close consinement, the young Heir, When's Mothers back was turnd, stole out of doors, But to secure's retreat, took several Marks, And carefully observd, how the Ways turnd; At length he came where he a young Cock spy'd, Strutting about the Room, with wanton Price, And an old Cat, lie prostrate on the Floor; T'wards them he creeps, the cunning Cat lay still, In hopes to get him further from his Hole, And then Regale her self with his young flesh: The wanton Cock, the Mouse no sooner saw, But after him he runs with open mouth, Making a hideous noise, sweeping the ground With his extended Wings; at which strange sight, The fearful Youth betakes himself to flight, And without looking back, got to his Hole; His Mother much rejoyed at his return, But when she saw him look so pale and wan, Trembling with fear, panting, and out of breath, What ails my Child, she cryd, where hast thou been? Tell me, my Joy, what strange Sights hast thou seen? Mother, said he, I saw two wondrous things, One of a Hair not much unlike to yours, Four Feet it had, a long Tail, slaming Eyes, Short Ears, a round Head, and a mild Aspect; Much was I taken with his Countenance, He seemd so Courteous, Assable, and Kind; As I was drawing near to hear him speak, The other thing, running with open mouth, Made to me, and had killd me, if I'd staid;

He had, Mother, methinks I see him still, Only two Feet, his Mouth was made of Horn, And a raw piece of Flesh grew on his Head, His Body short, with various Colours deckt, An upright Gate, bright Eyes, a bushy Tail, And on his scaly Legs, he wore long Spurs. The Mother by her Sons description, knew What he had seen, and thus to him replyd; Ah foolish Child, thou knowst not good from ill, And art not to be trusted by thy self, That Creature, which thou thoughtst so amiable, So Courteous, so Assable, so Kind, Whom to discourse thou hadst so great a mind, Is the worst Beast that lives under the Sun, Cruel, persidious, fraudulent, unjust, And a sworn Enemy to all thy Kind; He killd, and eat thy Father, and thy Brothers, He many Widows makes, and Childless Mothers, He had killd thee too, if thou hadst gone near; Him always dread, approach not near his Tents, If thou desirest to avoid untimely death, If for thy Mother thou hast any love, For my Life, dearest Child's, bound up in thine. The other, who so proud to thee appeard, So fierce, so cruel, so much to be feard, Is a young frolick, wanton Fool, like thee; He delights not in Blood, and Cruelty, Water he drinks, Corn is his only Food, There's nothing in him of the treacherous Cat; He has a valiant Heart, and chearful Song, And scorns to do, or suffer any wrong; The Assault he made on thee, was a meer Trick

Of Youth, a feignd Attack, a false Alarm, Designd to please himself, not thee to harm.

The MORAL.

A chearful Countenance shews an honest Heart▪ From those who wear that Badge, suspect no ill, But when thou dealst with Men of cloudy Brows, Pretending to more Conscience, than others, Look to thy Hits, for they will Cheat their Brothers.