Æsopicks: or, A second collection of fables, paraphras'd in verse, adorn'd with sculpture, and illustrated with annotations. / By John Ogilby, esq; his Majesty's cosmographer, geographick printer, and master of revels in the kingdom of Ireland.

[illustration] the leopard, fox and donkey lying on its back, with a dead stag in front of a wood. Another stag is hunted in the background.

Fab. 3.

FAB. III. Of the Leopard, the Fox, and the Ass.

SOon as the Sun, Days glorious Lamp, arose, Nights glittering Guards retir'd to their Repose, The new-made Master of the Royal Game, Lord Leopard, to a Crystal Fountain came, Where he the Fox and Ass at Watering met, Not of his new Employment hearing yet; To whom he said▪ Conges forbear and Caps, I hate all Complements and Formal Fops; You are my Tenants, at this living Spring Let's Tope a while; A Health, here's to the King, Who last Night graciously my Warrant sign'd: You know my Place, but I'll to you be kind, Your former Walks shall all confirmed be, Onely my Secretary pay his Fee: And since the Morning smiles, no sign of change, Let's take the Air, and through the Forest range, And if by chance on a Fat Buck we fall, We'll share alike, and be Hail-fellows all. They take his Word, at the first Motion joyn'd, As if Indentures Tripartite were sign'd; And singling out a well-sed Deer they slew, Expecting, as agreed upon, their Due.

Then spake the Leopard in a rougher style, You Ass, come hither and divide the Spoil; Reynard's a cunning Snap; you may be Just: But ah! in this bad World whom shall we trust? When Beasts call'd Saints, that only have a Form Of Godliness, rage with a Greedy-worm.

The Ass Commission'd thus, as soon as said, The Quarrie out in three Divisions laid, His Honor then beseeching first to chuse. A while he pondering stood, as in a muse; Volleys of Oaths at last a Passage found, That made Earth tremble, and the Groves resound: Thus closing all; Now by the Lion's Head, Thou wert in some malignant City bred, Thus learn'st thou there to weigh out, slice, and mince Thus measur'd they Rebellion 'gainst their Prince, Dividing in the late unnatural Stirs The Lion's Ermin, and his Nobles Furs; Skinners on Stalls, took in their cruel Toils, Hung Panthers Vests, and Leopards gaudy Spoils. Thus raving, at the Innocent he flies: Soon guiltless Blood the salvage Monster dyes.

Then turning to the Fox, bids him divide: At his Friends Fortune strangely terrifi'd, Soon as the Shares he up in one could get, Himself and them casts humbly at his Feet: Who smiling said, The Court you understand, And Great Ones Power well as Law-Cases scan'd: How could you hit, at what he shot so wide?

I took my aim from him, the Fox reply'd;

Here lies the President shall bear your Cause, And fetch you off with Honor and Applause In any Court, prove this a mild Rebuke, And how the sawcie Beast himself mistook.

Then said the Leopard, You to purpose speak, Lay the whole Burthen on the Asses Back; Then shall the Country, and the City too, Bring thee more Work than all Inns can do: For such a Lawyer, active, wise, and stout, That labors well, can bring what's what about, Blanch Crows, turn Cat in Pan a thousand ways, Who will not such to Wealth and Honor raise? But he whoe're to this Fat Buck pretends, Had better, Dam Me, eat his Trotters ends.

MORAL.

'Tis dangerous to deal with Hect••ring Lords, That seldom pay but such as carry Swords; Bonds, Bills, not signifie; when sure's the Debt If due at l'Hombre, or a Game at Beat.