[Page 254]

The LYON and the GNAT.

1 TO the still Covert of a Wood,
2 About the prime of Day,
3 A Lyon, satiated with Food,
4 With stately Pace, and sullen Mood,
5 Now took his lazy way.
6 To Rest he there himself compos'd,
7 And in his Mind revolv'd,
8 How Great a Person it enclos'd,
9 How free from Danger he repos'd,
10 Though now in Ease dissolv'd!
11 Who Guard, nor Centinel did need,
12 Despising as a Jest
13 All whom the Forest else did feed,
14 As Creatures of an abject Breed,
15 Who durst not him molest.
[Page 255]
16 But in the Air a Sound he heard,
17 That gave him some dislike;
18 At which he shook his grisly Beard,
19 Enough to make the Woods affeard,
20 And stretch'd his Paw to strike.
21 When on his lifted Nose there fell
22 A Creature, slight of Wing,
23 Who neither fear'd his Grin, nor Yell,
24 Nor Strength, that in his Jaws did dwell,
25 But gores him with her Sting.
26 Transported with th' Affront and Pain,
27 He terribly exclaims,
28 Protesting, if it comes again,
29 Its guilty Blood the Grass shall stain,
30 And to surprize it aims.
[Page 256]
31 The scoffing Gnat now laugh'd aloud,
32 And bids him upwards view
33 The Jupiter within the Cloud,
34 That humbl'd him, who was so proud,
35 And this sharp Thunder threw.
36 That Taunt no Lyon's Heart cou'd bear;
37 And now much more he raves,
38 Whilst this new Perseus in the Air
39 Do's War and Strife again declare,
40 And all his Terrour braves.
41 Upon his haughty Neck she rides,
42 Then on his lashing Tail;
43 (Which need not now provoke his Sides)
44 Where she her slender Weapon guides,
45 And makes all Patience fail.
[Page 257]
46 A Truce at length he must propose,
47 The Terms to be her Own;
48 Who likewise Rest and Quiet chose,
49 Contented now her Life to close,
50 When she'd such Triumph known.
51 You mighty Men, who meaner ones despise,
52 Learn from this Fable to become more Wise;
53 You see the Lyon may be vext with Flies.

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Title (in Source Edition): The LYON and the GNAT.
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Genres: fable

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Winchilsea, Anne Kingsmill Finch, Countess of, 1661-1720. Miscellany poems, on several occasions: Written by the Right Honble Anne, Countess of Winchilsea. London: printed for J. B. and sold by Benj. Tooke, William Taylor, and James Round, 1713, pp. 254-257. [8],390p. ; 8⁰. (ESTC T94539; Foxon pp. 274-5; OTA K076314.000) (Page images digitized from a copy in the Bodleian Library [Buxton 100].)

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Other works by Anne Finch (née Kingsmill), countess of Winchilsea