Classic Poem

All who attentive read the papers,
Must sure observe what puffs and vapours,
Of this, and that, and that and this,
What is, and what is not amiss;
Of who is worst, and who is best,
Of who's despis'd, and who's carest,
What turns and windings round about,
Of who is in, and who is out:
Yet half these know not what they mean,
Much less who moves the state machine;
What ends they have, what quaint design,
To raise, depress, or undermine:
Why one's degraded to a clod,
Why one's exalted to a God.
Yet those in politics renown'd,
Who view the wheel of state around,
Declare, and I believe them right,
Hid from the vulgar's prying sight,
'Tis owing to some secret spring,
Perhaps the favorite of a king.

To stop dispute, if I am able,
I'll clear the point — attend the fable.
A Goose, as wife as Goose could be,
Penn'd closely up, with other poultry,
Began, with self sufficient air,
Her worth and consequence declar'd;
" Tho' other Birds may give a loose
To mirth, and call me cackling goose,
Yet sure a Goose must have some parts,
Or why this feeding, why these arts?
Why all this care to stuff and cram me,
I'll be no more their make-game, d — n me.
I'll keep my dignity and state,
Man knows my worth — I seldom prate;
But when things are so very plain,
A Goose may speak and not be vain.

A smart young Cock, who heard her prating,
And his own worth was just debating,
With martial steps and haughty crest,
Approach'd, and thus the Goose addrest:
Was man to act with justice due,
I should be treated thus, not you;
In ease and safety I should seed,
And not such things as you, indeed:
My note is heard o'er all the lawn,
I rouse the shepherd with the dawn,
The daring kite I force to fly,
And all the neighbouring cocks defy.

The farmer now, voracious sinner,
Considering what to have for dinner,
Began to think the Goose was fitted,
By this time to be killed and spitted;
So did not hesitate, or stand sir,
But twisted off the neck of Anser .

The Cock now fill'd the Goose's place,
And strutted with no little grace;
Well pleas'd within his scanty room,
To think the fool had met her doom.
But ah! how short is earthly state,
Fatted, he met the Goose's fate!
And, unlamented, undeplor'd,
He smoak'd with bacon on the board,
The Turkey then filled up his room,
And shortly met the self same doom.

So 'tis, alas! in human things,
With slaves to minister or kings;
One fills a happy place to day,
The next for something hastes away;
Another him succeeds in place,
Unheedful of the like disgrace;
But some ill luck soon comes to spite 'em,
Thus on they go ad infinitum .