FABLE
[
03
]
III
.
The
Mother
,
the
Nurse
,
and
the
Fairy
.
GIve
me
a
son
.
The
blessing
sent
,
Were
ever
Parents
more
content
?
How
partial
are
their
doating
eyes
!
No
child
is
half
so
fair
and
wise
.
Wak'd
to
the
morning's
pleasing
care
,
The
Mother
rose
,
and
sought
her
heir
;
She
saw
the
Nurse
,
like
one
possest
,
With
wringing
hands
and
sobbing
breast
.
Sure
some
disaster
has
befel
,
Speak
Nurse
;
I
hope
the
boy
is
well
.
Dear
Madam
,
think
not
me
to
blame
,
Invisible
the
Fairy
came
,
Your
precious
babe
is
hence
convey'd
,
And
in
the
place
a
changeling
laid
;
Where
are
the
father's
mouth
and
nose
,
The
mother's
eyes
,
as
black
as
sloes
?
See
here
,
a
shocking
aukward
creature
,
That
speaks
a
fool
in
ev'ry
feature
.
The
woman's
blind
,
the
Mother
crys
,
I
see
wit
sparkle
in
his
eyes
.
Lord
!
Madam
,
what
a
squinting
leer
!
No
doubt
the
Fairy
hath
been
here
.
Just
as
she
spoke
,
a
pigmy
sprite
Pops
through
the
key-hole
,
swift
as
light
,
Perch'd
on
the
cradle's
top
he
stands
,
And
thus
her
folly
reprimands
.
Whence
sprung
the
vain
conceited
lye
That
we
the
world
with
fools
supply
?
What
!
give
our
sprightly
race
away
,
For
the
dull
helpless
sons
of
clay
!
Besides
,
by
partial
fondness
shown
,
Like
you
,
we
doat
upon
our
own
.
Where
yet
was
ever
found
a
mother
,
Who'd
give
her
booby
for
another
?
And
should
we
change
with
human
breed
,
Well
might
we
pass
for
fools
indeed
.