FABLES OF GAY, COWPER, AND

OTHERS

    "Brutes are my  theme.  Am  I   to  blame

            If  men in  morals  are the same?

    I   no  man call    or  ape or  ass;

            'Tis    his own conscience  holds   the glass.

    Thus    void    of  all offence I   write;

            Who claims  the fable,  knows   his right."

JOHN GAY

FABLES OF GAY AND COWPER

The Monkey Who Had Seen the World

    A   Monkey, to  reform  the times,

    Resolved    to  visit   foreign climes;

    For men in  distant regions roam,

    To  bring   politer manners home.

    So  forth   he  fares,  all toil    defies;

    Misfortune  serves  to  make    us  wise.

            At  length  the treacherous snare   was laid;

    Poor    Pug was caught, to  town    conveyed;

    There   sold.   How envied  was his doom,

    Made    captive in  a   lady's  room!

    Proud   as  a   lover   of  his chains,

    He  day by  day her favour  gains.