Thus our bob-tail'd Pythagoras preach'd, And with loud cant his lungs out-stretch'd. His fermon founded o'er the dale, While thus he moraliz'd with zeal. His glass spun out, he ceaft, admir'd By all who joyfully retir'd.

But after a' the lave was gane, Some geefe, twa chickens, and a hen, Thought fit to ftay a little space,

To tawk about fome kittle cafe.

The doctor hem'd, and in he drew them, Then quiet and decently he flew them; On whom he fed the good auld way. Those who wan aff, thrice happy they.

FABLE XXIII.

THE BEE AND THE FLY.

BEFORE her hive, a paughty Bee
Obferv'd a humble midding flie,

And proudly fpeer'd, what brought her there,
And with what front fhe durft repair

Amang the regents of the air.

"It fets ye well," the Flie reply'd,

"To quarrel with fic faucy pride!

cr

They 're daft indeed has ought to do

"With thrawin contentious fowk like you."-

"Why, fcoundrel, you!" return'd the Bee,

"What nation is fae wife as we?

"Beft laws and policy is ours,

"And our repast the fragrant flow'rs:

"No fordid nafty trade we drive,

"But with sweet honey fill the hive;

"Honey maist gratefu' to the taste,

"On which the gods themfells may feast. "Out of my fight, vile wretch! whofe tongue "Is daily flacking throw the dung;

"Vile fpirits, filthily content
"To feed on stinking excrement!"

The Fly replied in fober way,

"Faith we man live as well 's we may :

"Glad poverty was ne'er a vice,

"But fure ill-natur'd paffion is.

"Your honey's fweet; but then how tart
"And bitter 's your malicious heart!
"In making laws you copy heaven,
"But in your conduct how uneven !
"To fafh at ony time a fae,

"Ye 'll never stick ye'rfells to flae,
"And fkaith ye'rfell mair fickerly
"Than e'er ye can your enemy.
"At that rate, ane had better have
"Lefs talents, if they can behave

Discreet, and lefs their paffions' flave.”

FABLE XXIV.

THE HORSE'S COMPLAINT,

"AH! what a wretch'd unlucky corfe
"Am I!" cries a poor hireling horse:
"Toil'd a' the day quite aff my feet,
"With little time or ought to eat:
"By break of day, up frae my bed
"Of dirt I 'm rais'd to draw the fled,
"Or cart, as haps to my wanluck,
"To ca' in coals, or out the muck;
"Or dreft in faddle, howfe, and bridle,
"To gallop with fome gamphrel idle,
"That for his hiring pint and fhilling,

Obliges me, tho' maist unwilling,

"With whip, and fpur funk in my fide,
"O'er heights and hows all day to ride;
"While he neglects my hungry wame,
"Till aft I fa' and make him lame;
"Who curfes me fhou'd ban himsell,
"He starv'd me, I with faintness fell.

" How

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"How happy lives our baron's ape!

"That's good for nought but girn and gape, "Or round about the laffes flee,

"And lift their coats aboon their knee; "To frisk and jump frae stool to stool,

"Turn up his bum, and play the fool ; "Aft rives a mutch, or steals a spoon, "And burns the bairns' hofe and fhoon: "Yet while I'm starving in the stable, "This villain 's cock'd upon the table, "There fed and rees'd by all around him, "By foolish chiels, the pox confound them!"

My friend," fays a dowfe-headed ox, "Our knight is e'en like other folks : "For 'tis not them who labour maist "That commonly are paid the best: "Then ne'er caft up what ye deserve, "Since better 'tis to please than ferve."