Fortune While You May, And Bid The Churls That Envy You The Prey Call Back Their Mongrel Curs, And Cease Their Cry, See, Fools, The Shelter Of The Wood Is Nigh, And Chanticleer In Your Despite Shall Die, He Shall Be Pluck'D And Eaten To The Bone. 'Tis Well Advised, In Faith It Shall Be Done; This Reynard Said: But As The Word He Spoke, The Prisoner With A Spring From Prison Broke; Then Stretch'D His Feather'D Fans With All His Might, And To The Neighbouring Maple Wing'D His Flight; Whom, When The Traitor Safe On Tree Beheld, He Cursed The Gods, With Shame And Sorrow Fill'D: Shame For His Folly, Sorrow Out Of Time, For Plotting An Unprofitable Crime; Yet Mastering Both, The Artificer Of Lies Renews The Assault, And His Last Battery Tries. Though I, Said He, Did Ne'er In Thought Offend, How Justly May My Lord Suspect His Friend? The Appearance Is Against Me, I Confess, Who Seemingly Have Put You In Distress: You, If Your Goodness Does Not Plead My Cause, May Think I Broke All Hospitable Laws, To Bear You From Your Palace-Yard By Might, And Put Your Noble Person In A Fright: This, Since You Take It Ill, I Must Repent, Though, Heaven Can Witness, With No Bad Intent: I Practised It, To Make You Taste Your Cheer With Double Pleasure, First Prepared By Fear. So Loyal Subjects Often Seize Their Prince, Forced (For His Good) To Seeming Violence, Yet Mean His Sacred Person Not The Least Offence. Descend; So Help Me Jove, As You Shall Find, That Reynard Comes Of No Dissembling Kind. Nay, Quoth The Cock, But I Beshrew Us Both, If I Believe A Saint Upon His Oath: An Honest Man May Take A Knave'S Advice, But Idiots Only May Be Cozen'D Twice: Once Warn'D Is Well Bewared; No Nattering Lies Shall Soothe Me More To Sing With Winking Eyes, And Open Mouth, For Fear Of Catching Flies. Who Blindfold Walks Upon A River'S Brim, When He Should See, Has He Deserved To Swim? Better, Sir Cock, Let All Contention Cease, Come Down, Said Reynard, Let Us Treat Of Peace. A Peace With All My Soul, Said Chanticleer; But, With Your Favour, I Will Treat It Here: And, Lest The Truce With Treason Should Be Mix'D, 'Tis My Concern To Have The Tree Betwixt. The Moral. In This Plain Fable You The Effect May See Of Negligence, And Fond Credulity: And Learn Besides Of Flatterers To Beware, Then Most Pernicious When They Speak Too Fair. The Cock And Fox, The Fool And Knave Imply; The Truth Is Moral, Though The Tale A Lie. Who Spoke In Parables, I Dare Not Say; But Sure He Knew It Was A Pleasing Way, Sound Sense, By Plain Example, To Convey. And In A Heathen Author We May Find, That Pleasure With Instruction Should Be Join'D; So Take The Corn, And Leave The Chaff Behind.