AESOP FROM Islington.  
— Secretum divitis ullum  
Esse putas? Servi ut taceant, Jumenta loquentur  
Et Canis, & posts, & marmora.—  Juven. 
— de te Fabula narratur.  
Printed in the Year, 1699.   

THE PREFACE TO THE READER.  
AESOP it seems is in fashion, and because it's a kind of Custom to date him from some Waters, (like his Predecessors) I had as good make use of Islington, since it is not very far from thence to Westminster, which I believe is the end of his Journey. The Fables were written to please one of Judgement; and whether they will please any Body else is more than the Author knows, and whom they will not please he cares not. There is a mode in Prefaces too, and jocund one to these loose Papers in the Modern Tripping Style, would perhaps pass them off better; but there are few in these days have reason to laugh, (except those that win) unless it be after the rate of Mark Coleman, the Oxford Madman, who in his description of Bedlam said they there made one Sing, and Laugh, till one's Heart aches.  
It may be another account of Aesop than what we have had from Plaundes Camerarius, etc. would help to piece out a Leaf; and because one may be given of him, that the less studious part of the Town is not well acquainted with, there shall be a hint of him, which is, that he is not the man we take him to be, but in stead of the Samian Slave, we must seek him in the Arabian or Indian Lohkman, which is of an Ancienter Date than any Greek Imitator of him. For it is no news to the Learned World, that those Grecians we so much admire, (for what reasons let Schoolmasters tell you, for I can't) were but wretched Filchers, and worse disguisers of the Eastern Wisdom, and patched up their Aesop from an Eastern Sage as they did their Fabulous Theban Hercules, from the Nobler and much older discovering Tyrian Merchant, as the name [Herakol] implies, and better Accounts than theirs inform us. This might be illustrated and explained, by some curious, and useful Arabian and Persian Quotations; which no doubt would be called Scrawls, and Pothooks; and therefore Aesop or Sad-coloured Monsieur Lohkman, with the Princes he was Councillor to, and the Occasion of his Fables for the present is omitted; it may suffice in general to know, that Fables and Parables were much more in use among the Beaux Esprits of the East, than they are with ours (tho' it be a Fabling Age) and were the proper means among them, of conveying Truths to those, who had a Symetar and Bowstring (without the help of Speech-makers and Evidences) at the Service of Wiser and Honester Men than themselves; who aimed at Mercy, Truth, Honour, and the Public Good. This may serve for an Excuse for this digression, and for the design of the Fables too; and if they are stopped or enquired after, it may serve also for as good a Justification of our boasting English Liberties, by way of a Trifle, as the suspensions of the Hab— Corp— Act were in good earnest.—   
AESOP FROM Islington.  

FABLE I. Of the Countryman and Snake.  
A Pitying Yoeman found a frozen Snake,  
Which almost starved with killing cold did quake:  
('Twas when a Basilisk the Vermin drove  
Forth from his Grott, and shelter of the Grove;)  
When home he took the wretched Refugie;  
Daily renewed his Charity;  
And made the Crawling Thing one of his Family  
Who with the plenty of the place  
Soon changed his sallow meager Look:  
Erects his Crest, hist with a Grace,  
Gentile and haughtier Airs he took;  
Casts off his ragged Skin, the Household Rules,  
Despises all the honest Hinds, and counts them bubled Fools.  
Long with the Insolence they bore  
of this same Wriggling Worm,  
They never were so used before,  
So snapped at every turn:  
It bit their faithful useful Dogs,  
Gnawed things with Weesils, Rats and Mice  
Joined with the poisonous Toads and Frogs  
Spawned in unwholesome neighbouring Bogs,  
In every base Device.  
But when the children's Milk is soaked,  
The Buttery cleared, the Dairy robbed,  
They'd be no longer so provoked,  
Nor by their Master's Favourite fobbed:  
But showed themselves like Men:  
For out they drove with many a thwack,  
The Saucy interloping Snake,  
To starve abroad again.  

MORAL.  
Beware fond Britain's how you Favourites choose,  
No more the Scum of other Lands maintain:  
To foster Foreign Things forbear;  
For all you'll by the Sharpers' gain  
Will be their old Scorned Wooden Shoes,  
And a Fool's Cap to wear.    

FABLE II. Of the Steward and his Dogs.  
A Steward of a very large Estate,  
Set up for living splendedly and great,  
Dogs of all Countries and all sorts  
For mischief most, and some for sports,  
In order to't this Nimrod Spark provides,  
And more in such a rout of Curs he prides,  
Then all his Squirish Equipage besides,  
The Tenants sore were vexed and grieved,  
And often begged to be relieved:  
They swarmed with Tykes of several Nations  
And different qualities, and fashions;  
English Bulldogs that wink and bite,  
No matter whither wrong or right;  
Who when set on with loud Halloo's  
Distinguish not 'twixt Friends and Foes.  
French Spaniels who can fawn when starved,  
But snarl when full, and turn is served,  
Dutch Dogs with Warlike Looks and Miens,  
Who still in Danger save their Skins,  
Greedy and ready to devour,  
But on the Wolf's approach would scour.  
With such each Country Farm is filled  
Their Cattle worried, Poultry killed,  
And all their store consumed and spoiled,  
The Clowns in dread of Life and Limb,  
Petitioned many a doleful time  
For ease, from dangerous, useless, Beasts,  
By whom they were so much oppressed,  
The Steward grave, as oft replied,  
You know weare on the Forest side:  
Outlaws and Wolves, may ruin all,  
And then too late for help you'll call.  
We know the danger cried the men,  
And that from Otters of the Neighbouring Fen;  
But yet though routs of Wolves and Thiefs should come  
They're not so dangerous as these Curs at home  
By sad Experience we the difference know  
Between a Foreign and Domestic woe;  
These Dogs undo us, and we pay for't too.  

MORAL.  
May those by whom keeping such Dogs is encouraged,  
Have their Seats made free Quarters, and their Land bravely foraged    

FABLE III. The Pump.  
A Welshman (from his Hill's came down)  
Saw a strange Engine near a Town;  
A high erected Post there stood,  
Crowned with a Janus head of Wood;  
One of whose Faces looked to th' Country,  
Tother Phyz o'er the Town was Sentry,  
A Clown close by gave it many a thump,  
And told admiring Taffy 'Twas a Pump.  
With this side I my Cellar drain and dry  
With t'other I my Waters want supply,  
Here's all I have which in this bowl stands by.  
Sot, quoth the Briton, why dost toil?  
Here's not a drop comes all this while.  
Tother strait pours the dish of Water  
Into the Pump: thou mend'st the matter,  
Cried Taffy Laughing, why dost waste  
The Water thou already hast:  
Vexed with his Ignorance, the Clown  
Replied if ever thou hadst known  
How wiser men can use a Tool,  
Thou wouldst not prate so like a Fool:  
I threw this dishful in, thou silly Lout  
Because I'm sure to get a Tubfull out.  

MORAL.  
No wonder some profusely give their C—  
'Tis easy being liberal on design.  
Money well placed at time of need we know  
Tho' sprinkled but by P— makes M— flow.    

FABLE IV. Of the Bear and the Bees.  
Could Moscovy (as story tells)  
Is famed for Czars, the Bears:  
That it in Honey too excelled,  
From the same Books appears.  
There's scarce a hollow-Tree that grows,  
When cut, but Honey from it flows.  
A Plundering Bear about did roam,  
To many a hollow Oak he trooped,  
Greedy he was, oft changed his home,  
As oft the Pillaged Trees he Scooped:  
The Witless Bees saw him devour,  
Their Summer's toils, and Winter store  
Called it perhaps protecting too,  
Lest other Beasts the like should do,  
And seemed to be content,  
At length when he enlarged his rounds,  
(For Rapine scarce knows any bounds.)  
To a Farm-house he went.  
The Bear his wont raving drives,  
To run a muck at all the Hives.  
The Bees who had with patience born,  
The rifling of the Forest round;  
Enraged, their all was from them torn,  
And that their last retreat he found,  
With Indignation rose in swarms,  
With one consent all flew to arms,  
And all assailed the Bear:  
In numerous clusters round they hung;  
Never was prowling Beast so stung,  
As he was every where.  
Vast Numbers gored his tender Snout,  
Some his two shining Favourite Eyes,  
He rages, storms, and cuffs about,  
Both mad and blind to shun them tries:  
Among the rest there's none attacked him more  
Than even those Drones who snacked with him before.  
In vain for aid he roars and bawls  
In vain his kindred Cubs he calls;  
The Floods and Woods that Interpose,  
Keep all things from him but his Foes.  
Till torn, and bloody, through the bogs he flies,  
And by those infects he could once despise  
Raving, and Venomed, for his Rapine dies.  

MORAL.  
Whoever D' Alva like Essays  
To use oppressing means and ways,  
Will find the consequence but bad;  
Oppression all things over rules  
Not only raises swarms of Fools,  
But makes a wise Man mad.    

FABLE V. Of the Shepherd, Boy, and Clown's.  
A Shepherd Boy had oft abused  
Many an honest Country Fellow,  
Tho' one would guests that folks so used  
Were at the best but something shallow,  
Yet they had mixtures of good Nature,  
Made them believe the unlucky Creature.  
To Neighbouring Villages he'd run,  
With frighted looks and dismal tone,  
And roar out, Help! or I'm undone?  
Sometimes 'twas Thiefs would cut his Throat,  
Then, O the Wolf! was all his Note;  
Thus when he was of danger yelping,  
The sturdy Lowts would run to help him.  
Together would scour th' Associated band,  
And each with Life, Fortune, and Dung-fork in hand,  
But as soon as they came to the Sheepcote, and Flock,  
All they had from the Jeering young Whelp was a mock:  
Or at best he'd but show them, hanged up on a Bough  
Some poor Whesil or Polecat for a desperate Foe:  
And after would boast with his roguish Comrades,  
How finely he had bubled the clod-pated Blades,  
At last the Swains found out the Trade  
And no more hesten to his aid:  
But when in earnest Wolves and Thiefs  
Attack his Flock, there's none believes,  
But wounded and plundered he justly is crying  
For abusing good Nature, and bantring and lying.  

MORAL.  
If once I by a Knave am caught,  
'Tis his, if twice, 'tis then my fault.  
Who on Design will Plots and tricks devise  
Tho' he his bubbles ne'er so much despise,  
At length to his cost, finds Blockheads will grow wise.    

FABLE VI Of the Ox and the Leeches.  
TO a fed Ox whose overflowing blood,  
Ran from his mouth and nostrils like a flood,  
Some Leeches from th' adjoining Marches came,  
And cried to cure him they'd divert the stream,  
Each fixed himself in a convenient part  
And drained the Blood and Spirits from his heart.  
The panting Beast beheld the Leeches mud,  
Enriched and covered with his Purple blood.  
But when they talked how much their help did please,  
And with what skill they drew off the Disease:  
The fainting Ox (finding his Vitals fail)  
Cried where's the difference if my Life, Blood flows  
By usual maladies thro' mouth and Nose,  
Or against nature through a Leeches Tail.  

MORAL.  
When story tells how taxed and Bleeding France  
Suffered by Favourite Leeches heretofore;  
Which of them did her misery most advance  
Th' Unnatural Catamite or natural Whore?  
We well may Judge the several Mestresses,  
And Bastards, of fourth Harry no Disease,  
When once compared with Sodom's Sulphurous Flashes  
That flamed and ruined with the third's Bardashes.    

FABLE VII. Of a Mother and her Son.  
A Knowing Mother in a Country Town,  
Found a Rich Widow for her Looby Son:  
Her Fellow Gossip liked the Brawny Lad,  
The Mother courted, and the Match was made.  
When on the Noon of brisk S. Valentine,  
Our Lover blubbered, nay he could not Dine:  
The Mother wondering why he left his Fodder,  
And cried, and cursed, and kept a doleful pother;  
The o'ergrown Schoolboy straight she took aside,  
And asked the whimpering Youngster why he cried  
That shortly was to have both Wealth and Bride.  
Who quick replied, in Fury mixed with Snivel,  
〈◊〉 give all Women Wealth, and Brides to th' Devil:  
I'd rather have the Greyhound-bitch, or Sow,  
They'll make the better Spouses of the two.  
Why Rogue, quoth She, Marry, or take what follows.  
S. Ads-Nines I want, I'd rather to th' Gallows.  
M. What Reason? S. Why this Morning I designed  
To have my Mistress for my Valentine,  
To steal a Kiss, up Stairs I softly tread,  
But saw a Sight ready to strike me dead,  
She and the hectoring Cornet both a Bed.  
M. O wicked Carrion! faith I'll make her known,  
'Slife shall a Strumpet think to catch my Son?  
Hold, Mother, cries he, home I ran to find  
You, and my Sisters both, to ease my mind,  
But saw, through the Latch-hole of the Dairy,  
Another Motive for Man to Marry,  
Dol and the Trooper at the same Fegary.  
M. O wretched Jade! I'll break her Neck, I'll teach her  
To damn her Soul with such a Ruffian Letcher:  
She trots a begging strait. S. Good Mother hold  
He sobbing cries, the Stories not all told.  
Up then I went, and opened Jinnys Curtains,  
To tell my Sister's Tricks, and my Misfortunes,  
Out my Young Landlord starts, draws, bans and swears  
●…eel cut my Throat, then tumbles me down Stairs.  
The Mother bellows more than he— M. O Whores,  
Would I were dead— but both shall out of Doors;  
Thou shalt have both their Portions— faith I'll rout them,  
Not a cracked Groat but what they have about them.  
〈◊〉 Zounds Mother Peace— pray let the Girls alone,  
Hear my damned Story— to the Cart I run  
●nd took a Rope, then to the Barn I went  
To end my wretched Life with full intent.  
●ne always at such times ones self prepares,  
〈◊〉 crying sung my Psalm, and snobed my Prayers.  
Scarce had I done, while fitting up the Noose,  
I saw— M. Hold Child— S. I think the Devil broke lose  
You and the Thresher climb upon the Mow,  
And manage matters there, you best know how.  
Purpose to hang myself I straight let fall,  
But came my ways, wishing to hang you all.  
The Mother cleared her Brow, then winked and smiled  
'Tis general Coupling-time thou silly Child;  
Go to thy Mistress Fool, sh'has Money store,  
That whitens all things, and heals every Sore.  
Wealth, all Defects, and Crimes, away will strike  
Choose where you will, perhaps we are all alike.  

MORAL.  
●t the fair gentle Sex not look a-skew,  
●is a vile Story, and can ne'er be true.  
●ay I suspect the Mother's Sex in't, when  
●ethinks she talks confounded like a Man  
〈◊〉 these degenerate, and corrupted days,  
Women are fittest subjects of our praise.  
Woman no Country sells, nor Land enslaves;  
(Unless the cursed Priesthood goes their halves)  
Trust, Faith, and Honour, they engross alone;  
No baneful Woman evidence is shown.  
With them the chiefest Joys on Earth we prove,  
They soften Cares, and crown our Toils with Love.  
Of Avarice this Fable bids beware,  
●ony to wretched Man's the surest snare,  
His chief Vicegerent of the Prince of Air.  
Nothing shows more than this the Power of Coin,  
Those force even makes such fallen Angels shine.    

FABLE VIII. Of the Man and his Idols.  
A Superstitious Man had damned ill Fortune,  
Losses come daily on, Revenues shorten;  
As daily he, that every thing might hap well,  
Adored some guilded Idols in his Chapel:  
Much time he lost, much Incense smoked in vain  
And nothing from the senseless Things could gain  
Him did a Friend, pitying his want of sense,  
And want of Money, labour to convince:  
So Reason foolish Zeal did once o'er come,  
When backed with Rage, and Poverty at home.  
Half-witted Men run often to extremes,  
To Atheism from Superstitious Dreams.  
Which made him knock his gilded Pagods down;  
The Family ran gladly to his aid,  
Hoping the bigot starving Trade was done,  
And they no more should famish while he prayed,  
When from their broken Trunks vast Treasures flew,  
Enough to make him easy while he lived,  
This heap of Pelf, of which he nothing Knew,  
Was by some wealthy Ancestor contrived:  
Who for his wise Posterity did hoard,  
And thought Religious Dread, the Surest Guard.  
O'erjoyed he cries, let others Pray and Bow,  
I've turned you to the fittest purpose now.  

MORAL  
In times perhaps as hard as Hal the Eighths,  
What if a shining Church helped pay our Debts.  
What if in State the Expedient now  
On some fine Things were tried;  
Who their gay outsides daily show,  
And mightier Treasures hide.    
FINIS.