[
FABLE
]
INTRODUCTION
TO
THE
FABLES
.
The
Shepherd
and
the
Philosopher
.
Remote
from
citys
liv'd
a
Swain
,
Unvex'd
with
all
the
cares
of
gain
,
His
head
was
silver'd
o'er
with
age
,
And
long
experience
made
him
sage
;
In
summer's
heat
and
winter's
cold
He
fed
his
flock
and
pen'd
the
fold
,
His
hours
in
cheerful
labour
flew
,
Nor
envy
nor
ambition
knew
;
His
wisdom
and
his
honest
fame
Through
all
the
country
rais'd
his
name
.
A
deep
Philosopher
(
whose
rules
Of
moral
life
were
drawn
from
schools
)
The
Shepherd's
homely
cottage
sought
,
And
thus
explor'd
his
reach
of
thought
.
Whence
is
thy
learning
?
Hath
thy
toil
O'er
books
consum'd
the
midnight
oil
?
Hast
thou
old
Greece
and
Rome
survey'd
,
And
the
vast
sense
of
Plato
weigh'd
?
Hath
Socrates
thy
soul
refin'd
,
And
hast
thou
fathom'd
Tully's
mind
?
Or
,
like
the
wise
Ulysses
thrown
By
various
fates
on
realms
unknown
,
Hast
thou
through
many
citys
stray'd
,
Their
customs
,
laws
and
manners
weigh'd
?
The
Shepherd
modestly
reply'd
.
I
ne'er
the
paths
of
learning
try'd
,
Nor
have
I
roam'd
in
foreign
parts
To
read
mankind
,
their
laws
and
arts
;
For
man
is
practis'd
in
disguise
,
He
cheats
the
most
discerning
eyes
:
Who
by
that
search
shall
wiser
grow
,
When
we
ourselves
can
never
know
?
The
little
knowledge
,
I
have
gain'd
,
Was
all
from
simple
nature
drain'd
;
Hence
my
life's
maxims
took
their
rise
,
Hence
grew
my
settled
hate
to
vice
.
The
daily
labours
of
the
bee
Awake
my
soul
to
industry
.
Who
can
observe
the
careful
ant
,
And
not
provide
for
future
want
?
My
dog
(
the
trustiest
of
his
kind
)
With
gratitude
inflames
my
mind
;
I
mark
his
true
,
his
faithful
way
,
And
in
my
service
copy
Tray
.
In
constancy
,
and
nuptial
love
I
learn
my
duty
from
the
dove
.
The
hen
,
who
from
the
chilly
air
With
pious
wing
protects
her
care
,
And
ev'ry
fowl
that
flies
at
large
Instructs
me
in
a
parent's
charge
.
From
nature
too
I
take
my
rule
To
shun
contempt
and
ridicule
.
I
never
with
important
air
In
conversation
overbear
:
Can
grave
and
formal
pass
for
wise
,
When
men
the
solemn
owl
despise
?
My
tongue
within
my
lips
I
rein
,
For
who
talks
much
must
talk
in
vain
;
We
from
the
wordy
torrent
fly
:
Who
listens
to
the
chatt'ring
pye
?
Nor
would
I
with
felonious
slight
By
stealth
invade
my
neighbour's
right
;
Rapacious
animals
we
hate
:
Kites
,
hawks
and
wolves
deserve
their
fate
.
Do
not
we
just
abhorrence
find
Against
the
toad
and
serpent
kind
?
But
envy
,
calumny
and
spite
Bear
stronger
venom
in
their
bite
.
Thus
ev'ry
object
of
creation
Can
furnish
hints
to
contemplation
,
And
from
the
most
minute
and
mean
A
virtuous
mind
can
morals
glean
.
Thy
fame
is
just
,
the
Sage
replys
,
Thy
virtue
proves
thee
truly
wise
;
Pride
often
guides
the
author's
pen
,
Books
as
affected
are
as
men
,
But
he
who
studys
nature's
laws
From
certain
truth
his
maxims
draws
,
And
those
,
without
our
schools
,
suffice
To
make
men
moral
,
good
and
wise
.