Fables with a Memoir by A Dobson Author:John Gay General Books publication date: 2009 Original publication date: 1882 Notes: This is a black and white OCR reprint of the original. It has no illustrations and there may be typos or missing text. When you buy the General Books edition of this book you get free trial access to Million-Books.com where you can select from more than a million book... more »s for free. Excerpt: TO HIS HIGHNESS WILLIAM DUKE OF CUMBERLAND FABLE I. THE LION, THE TIGER, AND THE TRA SELLER. A CCEPT, young Prince, the moral lay, And in these tales mankind survey; With early virtues plant your breast, The specious arts of vice detest. Princes, like beauties, from their youth Are strangers to the voice of truth ; Learn to contemn all praise betimes ; For flattery's the nurse of crimes : Friendship by sweet reproof is shown, (A virtue never near a throne) ; In courts such freedom must offend, There none presumes to be a friend. To those of your exalted station Each courtier is a dedication. Must I too flatter like the rest, And turn my morals to a jest ? The Muse disdains to steal from those, Who thrive in courts by fulsome prose. But shall I hide your real praise, Or tell you what a nation says ? They in your infant bosom trace The virtues of your royal race ; In the fair dawning of your mind Discern you gen'rous, mild, and kind ; They see you grieve to hear distress, And pant already to redress. Go on, the height of good attain, Nor let a nation hope in vain. For hence we justly may presage The virtues of a riper age. True courage shall your bosom fire, And future actions own your sire. Cowards are cruel; but the brave Love mercy, and delight to save. A Tiger roaming for his prey, Sprung on a Trav'ler in the way; The prostrate game a lion spies, And on the greedy tyrant flies ; With mingled roar resounds the wood, Their teeth, their claws distil with blood ; Till vanquish'd by the Lion's strength, The spotted foe extends his lengt...« less