Esop. They frown, as they wou'd stand their Ground,
But (like some of our Friends) they found
'Twas safer much to scour.
Rog. Tantive, Tantive, Tantive, &c.
Esop. At length the 'Squire, who hated Arms,
Was so perplext with these Alarms,
He rose up in a kind of Heat,
Udswookers, quoth he, with all your Meat,
I will maintain, a Dish of Pease,
A Radish, and a Slice of Cheese,
With a good Desert of Ease,
Is much a better Treat.
However,
Since every Man shou'd have his due,
I own, Sir, I'm oblig'd to you
For your Intentions at your Board:
But Pox upon your courtly Crew——
Rog. Amen, I pray the Lord. Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha! Now the De'el cuckold me if this Story be not worth a Sermon. Give me your Hond, Sir.——If it had na' been for your friendly Advice, I was going to be Fool enough to be Secretary of State.
Esop. Well, go thy ways home, and be wiser for the future.
Rog. And so I will: For that same Mause, your Friend, was a witty Person, gadsbudlikins! and so our Wife Joan shall know: For between you and I, 'tis she has put me upon going to Court. Sir, she has been so praud, so saucy, so rampant, ever since I brought her home a lac'd Pinner, and a pink-colour'd pair of Shoe-strings, from Tickledowne Fair, the Parson o'th' Parish can't rule her; and that you'll say's much. But so much for that. Naw I thank you for your good Counsel, honest little Gentleman; and to shew you that I'se not ungrateful—give me your Hond once more——If you'll take the pains but to walk dawne to our Towne—a Word in your Ear——I'se send you so drunk whome again, you shall remember friendly Roger as long as you have Breath in your Body.
[Exit Roger
Esop. solus.
Farewel, what I both envy and despise!
Thy Happiness and Ignorance provoke me.
How noble were the thing call'd Knowledge,
Did it but lead us to a Bliss like thine!
But there's a secret Curse in Wisdom's Train, }
Which on its Pleasures stamps perpetual Pain, }
And makes the wise Man Loser by his Gain. }
[Exit.