FABLE VIII *.

A Nonpareil, an Apple Tree +,

A Commoner, haughty and proud †,
And a Pome-granate, a Grandee §,
One day difputed hard and loud:
I am the Favourite of the nation,
The Apple faid, that's a plain cafe;
I know your rank and occupation,
And laugh'd in the Pomegranate's face ;
My merit's known to all mankind,
I never courted your choice fpirits ;
Your noble virtues are confin'd,

Few people know your latent merits;
Nor know your Virtues, like the Beaver's,

Lie in your feminal Receivers.

A Bramble, fncaking like a rogue,

Out of a hedge, and out of fight;

* Alludes to the conference between the duke of Bedford, Mr.

Grenville, and lord Bute, early in the year 1766, at lord Eglintoun's.

+ The Duke of Bedford.

§ Lord Bute

Mr. Grenville.

Lord Eglintoun.

Cry'd,

Cry'd, Breeth'ren, with a Province brogue,
Be Freends, and let us aw Unite.

When the Great quarrel, the small Fry,

Stir, and affect important vigour;
Then Efop fays, the Ciphers try,

But never can make any figure.

THE NEW

FABLE OF THE BEES:

IN TWO CANTOS.

HIS QUIDAM SIGNIS, ATQUE HÆC EXEMPLA SECUTI, ESSE APIBUS PARTEM DIVINÆ MENTIS, ET HAUSTUS

ÆTHEREOS DIXERE: DEUM NAMQUE IRE PER OMNES

TERRASQUE, TRACTUSQUE MARIS, CÆLUMQUE PROFUN

DUM.

Virg. Georg. L. iv.

CANTO I.

THE ARGUMENT..

A preliminary difcourfe-The origin of police-The divine right of kings afferted upon new principles, more fuitable to the goodness of God and good fenfe than the old principles that are taught at Oxford-The nature of courts-The court of Hea ven-The court of requests-Angels-Minifters-The bee piper-Afpeech-A prayer—A curse, in which all good peo ple are defired to join-The conclufion.