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Show &66 ESOP. Efip. W h y then, Sir, m e defires to be admir'd by *yery Man fhe meets. Or. Sir, you are too familiar. Efop. Sir, you are too haughty; I muft foften that harfh Tone of yours : It don't become you Sir; it makes a Gentleman appear a Porter, Sir: And that you may know the ufe of good Language, 111 tell you what once happen'd. Once on a Time Or. I'll have none of your old Wives Fables, Sir, I have no Time to lofe ; therefore, in a w o r d - - Efop. In a word, be mild : For nothing elfe will do you Service. Good Manners and foft Words have brought many a difficult thing to pafs. Therefore hear m e patiently. A Cook one Day, who had been drinking, (Only as many times, you know, You Spruce, Young, Witty Beaux will do, T' avoid the dreadful pain of Thinking) Had Orders fent him to behead A Goofie, like any Chaplain fed. He took fuch pains to fit his Knife right, *T had done one good t' have loft one's Life by't. But many Men have many Minds, There's various Taftes in various Kinds \ A Swan (who by miftake he feiz.'d) With wretched Life was better pleas'd : For as he went to give the Blow, In tuneful Notes fhe let him know. She neither was a Goofie, nor wifih'd To make her Exit /&. The Coo\.(who thought of nought but Blooa, Except it were the Greafe, For that you know's his Fees) To hear her fing, in great Amazement flood. Cods-Ftfl>, quoth he, 'twas well you Jpoke, For I was juft upon the Stroke: Your Feathers have fo much ofGoOjf% i A drunken Cook cou'd do no lefs _ ^ Jhan think you one \ . that yo» " « # * ^ 267 } ESOP. ^ ^ TlfrZ6 * Vrt°to> fo fweet, Th4t rather than you fhall be eat The Houfe frail flarve for want of Meat • *nd f0 he turn'd her loofe. ' To Or.] Now, Sir, what fay you? Will *! k 1 Swan, or the Goofe ? X } WlU >0 u be thc Or. The Choice can't, fure, be difficult to make- I hope you will excufe m y youthful Hear ' Young Men and Lovers have a claim to Pardon* But fince the Faults of Age have no fuch Plea, ' I hopeyou 11 be more cautious of offending. The Flame that warms Euphronia's Heart and mine Has long, alas ! been kindled in our Breafts • ' *rZlT TA ^l11" °Ur tWO Souls *«* wed, Twou d be Adultery but to wifh to part 'em Anxrn° r d \ } U m ^ f ChY al°»e content you, A Miftrefs cold and fenflefs in your Arms Without the leaft Remains or Signs of Life Except her Sighs, to mourn her abfent Lover P Whilft you fhou'd prefs her in your ea<jer Arm? With fond Defire and Extafy of Love, * * Wou'd it not pierce you to the very Soul, T o fee her Tears run trickling down her Cheeks And know their Fountain meant 'em all to m e ? Cou'd you bear this ? Yet thus the Gods revenge themfelves on thofe W h o ftop the happy Courfe of mutual Love. If you muft be unfortunate one way, Chufe that where Juftice may fupport your Grief And fhun the weighty Curfe of injur'd Lovers. Efop. W h y , this is pleading like a Swan indeed! Were any thing at ftake but m y Euphronia- . Or. Your Euphronia, Sir - Efop. The Goofe-take h e e d -- Were any thing, I fay, at ftake but her, Your Plea wou'd be too ftrongto be refus'd. But our Debate's about a Lady, Sir, That's Young, that's Beautiful, that's made far Love.] N 2 So |