Aphra Behn (2)

Here are some more fables written by Aphra Behn for the second edition of Francis Barlow's illustrated Aeop's Fables, and you can click here for all the Behn fables at this blog. 

The Dog with a Clog

A Dog whose fierceness was with fetters checkt,

Fancyd himselfe with some new honour deckt.

Thy folly's great the wiser currs replye,

For glory to mistake thy infamie.

Morall

Thus dareing debauchers do often boast,

In those loose vices men dishonour most.

The Ox and Toad

The Toad woud needs the Oxes size attaine,

And with fell poyson puffs up every veine,

Then asked her sone if equall were their size,

Then swells againe, and with her venome dyes.

Morall

The would-bee witts to Lawrrels woud aspire,

And write till damn'd they shamefully retire.

The Lion and Fox

When first the Fox the forest monarch saw,

He gaz'd with trembling feare and reverend awe,

But by degrees more boldly he adrest,

Than holds a Parly with the Royal Beast.

Morall

Vertues seem rigid to the wild and loose,

But grow familiar by their constant use.

The Ape and Fox

The Ape implord, the Fox her bum woud vaile,

With a proportion of his useless Taile,

But he replyd: tho me no good it do,

I will not Spare an inch to savour you.

Morall

Thus the Ill naturd Rich reserve their store,

And please themselves to see their neighbours poor.

The Birds and Beasts

Twixt birds and beasts a fatall warr is held,

The winged powers are conqueror o're the field.

The Batt is captive tane whom all detest

For she forsook her nation and her nest.

Morall

A Traytor all behold with just disdaine,

Who basely quitts his cause, and sovereigne.

Aphra Behn (1)

One of my favorite illustrated books of Aesop's fables is by the English artist Francis Barlow: Aesop's Fables. For the second edition, Barlow included verses by Aphra Behn, which you can see below. The illustrations in the two editions are the same, but the English poetry in the first edition is by Thomas Philipott, whose poems were swapped for Behn's poetry in the second edition. The poems below are by Behn:

The Ass eating Thistles 

A sordid Ass, while on his back he bore,

Of chosen delicates, a plenteous store;

His courser Appetite with Thistles treats,

And starves beneath his load of nobler Meats.

Profuseness is a farr less dangerous vice

Than the Ill natur'd damning Avarice.

The Wolf in Sheeps Clothing  

A subtile Wolfe, more safly to betray,

In a sheepes Clothing does himselfe array,

And unexpected now whole flocks destroys,

Till a kind halter ends his stoln joys.

The zealous Cheat has wrought the land more woe,

Than bare fac'd villainie coud ever doe.

The City Mouse and Country Mouse  

The City mouse invites her Country Guest,

To tas the daintyes of a Citty feast,

But oft disturb'd by interupted noys,

They hide, and fear his appetite destroys.

The great the Hurry of the world indure,

And tis the country life alone's secure.

The Lyon and Mouse  

The Royall Beast intangl'd in a snare,

Coud not with teeth and claws the ambush tear,

When a kind humble Mouse, the Cord untwind,

And broke that Mase the Forest King confind.

Doe not despise the Service of a Slave,

An Oak did once a glorious Monarch save.

[see Wikipedia for the Royal Oak]

The Dog and Ox 

An Envious Dog in a full manger lay,

Nor eats himself, nor to the Ox gives way,

Who griev'd reply'd — ah grudge not me that meat,

Which (cruell) thou thy self disdainst to eate.

Thus aged Lovers with young Beautys live,

Keepe off those joys they want the power to give.