FABLE
[
02
]
II
.
The
Spaniel
and
the
Cameleon
.
A
Spaniel
,
bred
with
all
the
care
That
waits
upon
a
fav'rite
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
Cameleon
seen
Was
scarce
distinguish'd
from
the
green
.
Dear
emblem
of
the
flatt'ring
host
,
What
live
with
clowns
,
a
genius
lost
!
To
citys
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
ladys
prais'd
me
for
address
,
I
knew
to
hit
each
courtier's
passion
,
And
flatter'd
ev'ry
vice
in
fashion
.
But
Jove
,
who
hates
the
lyar's
ways
,
At
once
cut
short
my
prosp'rous
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
diff'rent
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
.