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.

FAB. XLII. 2. Of the same Carpenter and Mercury.

WHilst pratling Fame this to his Servants told, Their Master had refus'd an Ax of Gold; Amongst these, one, who, 'midst their emptying Pots, Drew on wet Tables Ichnographick Plots, Models, and Forms; this heard, his Fancy racks, How to be Master of a Golden Ax: Hot on his new-laid Project, thence he slips, And on the same Tree mounted, hews, and chips; Then (as design'd) straining a Branch to lop, Down lets his Hatchet in the Water drop, And to the Gods conceives these feigned Prayers:

You Powers that pittying look on Mens Affairs, And the most abject help when they implore, My Hatchet, ah! my Hatchet me restore; Which wanting, I shall ne're perform my Work, Though but to build a Caledonian Kirk.

Hermes the Hypocrite's Petition heard, And above Waves with a bright Ax appeared, And thus, who durst trepan the Gods, trepann'd; If this be yours, this Hatchet, ease my Hand, Which I'm not able longer up to hold, Although a Deity, all of massie Gold;

Stoop, stoop, Friend, quickly, and receive your own. Which said, the Wretch streight bending, tumbled down, And at Shades grasping, fell into the Stream, Where soon he waken'd from his Golden Dream; Thence scrabling out, safe on the River side, He at his Girdle his own Hatchet spy'd, And at the Transformation wondring stood, The Helve turn'd Marble, and the Steel grown Wood: When thus he said, A very fine Exploit, To get a Golden Ax not worth a Doit.

MORAL.

Artists that Toil, hard Livings wring from Sweat, Strangely affect what's purchas'd by a Cheat: Who Courts or Churches Build, or else Repair, Of such John Joyners let them take some care.