 | |
| |
| The man who, with undaunted toils, |
| Sails unknown seas to unknown soils, |
| With various wonders feasts his sight: |
| What stranger wonders does he write! |
| 5 | We read, and in description view |
| Creatures which Adam never knew: |
| For, when we risk no contradiction, |
| It prompts the tongue to deal in fiction. |
| Those things that startle me or you, |
| 10 | I grant are strange; yet may be true. |
| |
| Who doubts that elephants are found |
| For science and for sense renowned? |
| Borri records their strength of parts, |
| Extent of thought, and skill in arts; |
| 15 | How they perform the law's decrees, |
| And save the state the hangman's fees; |
| And how by travel understand |
| The language of another land. |
| Let those, who question this report, |
| 20 | To Pliny's ancient page resort; |
| |
| How learn'd was that sagacious breed! |
| Who now (like them) the Greek can read! |
| As one of these, in days of yore, |
| Rummaged a shop of learning o'er; |
| 25 | Not, like our modern dealers, minding |
| Only the margin's breadth and binding; |
| A book his curious eye detains, |
| Where, with exactest care and pains, |
| Were every beast and bird portrayed, |
| 30 | That e'er the search of man surveyed, |
| |
| Their natures and their powers were writ, |
| With all the pride of human wit. |
| The page he with attention spread, |
| And thus remarked on what he read: |
| 35 | 'Man with strong reason is endowed; |
| A beast scarce instinct is allowed. |
| But let this author's worth be tried, |
| 'Tis plain that neither was his guide. |
| Can he discern the different natures, |
| 40 | And weigh the power of other creatures |
| |
| Who by the partial work hath shown |
| He knows so little of his own? |
| How falsely is the spaniel drawn! |
| Did man from him first learn to fawn? |
| 45 | A dog proficient in the trade! |
| He the chief flatterer nature made! |
| Go, man, the ways of courts discern, |
| You'll find a spaniel still might learn. |
| How can the fox's theft and plunder |
| 50 | Provoke his censure or his wonder; |
| |
| From courtiers' tricks, and lawyers' arts, |
| The fox might well improve his parts. |
| The lion, wolf, and tiger's brood, |
| He curses, for their thirst of blood: |
| 55 | But is not man to man a prey? |
| Beasts kill for hunger, men for pay.' |
| The bookseller, who heard him speak, |
| And saw him turn a page of Greek, |
| Thought, what a genius have I found! |
| 60 | Then thus addressed with bow profound: |
| |
| 'Learn'd sir, if you'd employ your pen |
| Against the senseless sons of men, |
| Or write the history of Siam, |
| No man is better pay than I am; |
| 65 | Or, since you're learn'd in Greek, let's see |
| Something against the Trinity.' |
| When wrinkling with a sneer his trunk, |
| 'Friend,' quoth the elephant, 'you're drunk; |
| E'en keep your money and be wise: |
| 70 | Leave man on man to criticise; |
| |
| For that you ne'er can want a pen |
| Among the senseless sons of men. |
| They unprovoked will court the fray: |
| Envy's a sharper spur than pay. |
| 75 | No author ever spared a brother; |
| Wits are game-cocks to one another.' |
