I yet have stock in hand to spare, And could write on--but will forbear-- First, lest I tire a friend, whose state And avocations are so great: And then, if other pens should try This moral scheme as well as I, They may have something to pursue:-- Yet if the spacious field we view, More men are wanting for the plan, Rather than matter for the man. Now for that prize I make my plea You promised to my brevity. Keep your kind word; for life, my friend, Is daily nearer to its end; And I shall share your love the less The longer you your hand repress: The sooner you the boon insure, The more the tenure must endure; And if I quick possession take, The greater profit must I make, While yet declining age subsists, A room for friendly aid exists. Anon with tasteless years grown weak, In vain benevolence will seek To do me good--when Death at hand Shall come and urge his last demand. 'Tis folly, you'll be apt to say, A thousand times to beg and pray Of one with so much worth and sense, Whose gen'rous bounty is propense. If e'er a miscreant succeeds, By fair confession of his deeds, An innocent offender's case Is far more worthy of your grace. You for example sake begin, Then others to the lure you'll win, And in rotation more and more Will soon communicate their store. Consider in your mind how far At stake your word and honour are; And let your closing the debate By what I may congratulate. I have been guilty of excess Beyond my thought in this address But 'tis not easy to refrain A spirit work'd up to disdain By wretches insolent and vile, With a clear conscience all the while. You'll ask me, sir, at whom I hint-- In time they may appear in print. But give me leave to cite a phrase I met with in my boyish days. "'Tis dangerous for the mean and low Too plain their grievances to show." This is advice I shall retain While life and sanity remain.
When I resolved my hand to stay For this, that others might have play, On reconsidering of my part I soon recanted in my heart: For if a rival should arise, How can he possibly devise The things that I have let alone, Since each man's fancy is his own, And likewise colouring of the piece?-- It was not therefore mere caprice, But strong reflection made me write: Wherefore since you in tales delight, Which I, in justice, after all, Not Esop's, but Esopian call; Since he invented but a few; I more, and some entirely new, Keeping indeed the ancient style, With fresh materials all the while. As at your leisure you peruse The fourth collection of my muse, That you may not be at a stand, A fifth shall shortly come to hand; 'Gainst which, if as against the rest, Malignant cavillers protest, Let them carp on, and make it plain They carp at what they can't attain. My fame's secure, since I can show How men of eminence like you, My little book transcribe and quote, As like to live of classic note. It is th' ambition of my pen To win th' applause of learned men.