The Poetical Works of John Gay Author:John Underhill, John Gay Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: For beasts of prey, a servile train, Have been the flatterers of my reign. You reason well: yet tell me, friend, Did ever you in courts attend ? For all my fawni... more »ng rogues agree,v That human heroes rule like me.'"- THE SPANIEL AND THE CHAMELEON. A Spaniel, bred with all the care That waits upon a favourite heir,- Ne'er felt correction's rigid hand; Indulg'd to disobey command, In pamper'd ease his hours were spent: He never knew what learning meant. 'Such forward airs, so pert, so smart, Were sure to win his lady's heart: Each little mischief gain'd him praise ; How pretty were his fawning ways! The wind was south, the morning fair, He ventures forth to take the air : He ranges all the meadow round, And rolls upon the softest ground ; When near him a Chameleon seen, Was scarce distinguish'd from the green. ' Dear emblem of the flattering host, What, live with clowns! a genius lost! To cities and the court repair; A fortune cannot fail thee there: Preferment shall thy talents crown ; Believe me, friend ; I know the Town.' ' Sir, (says the Sycophant) like you, Of old, politer life I knew: Like you, a courtier born and bred, Kings lean'd their ear to what I said: My whisper always met success ; The ladies prais'd me for address : I knew to hit each courtier's passion, And flattered ev'ry vice in fashion: But Jove, who hates the liar's ways, At once cut short my prosperous days, And, sentenc'd to retain my nature, Transform'd me to this crawling creature. Doom'd to a life obscure and mean, I wander in the sylvan scene: For Jove the heart alone regards ; He punishes what man rewards. How different is thy case and mine ? With men at least you sup and dine, While I, condemn'd to thinnest fare, Like those I flatter'd, feed on air.' MOTHER, THE NURSE, AND THE FAIRY ...« less