Classic Poem

FABLE IX.

To a Modern P OLITICIAN .

I GRANT corruption sways mankind,
That int'rest too perverts the mind,
That bribes have blinded common sense,
Foil'd reason, truth and eloquence;
I grant you too, our present crimes
Can equal those of former times.
Against plain facts shall I engage,
To vindicate our righteous age?
I know, that in a modern fist
Bribes in full energy subsist:
Since then these arguments prevail,
And itching palms are still so frail,
Hence politicians, you suggest,
Should drive the nail that goes the best;
That it shows parts and penetration,
'To ply men with the right temptation.
To this, I humbly must dissent,
Premising, no reflection 's meant.
Does justice, or the client's sense,
Teach lawyers either side's defence?
The fee gives eloquence its spirit;
That only is the client's merit.
Does art, wit, wisdom, or address
Obtain the prostitute's caress?
The guinea (as in other trades)
From ev'ry hand alike persuades.
Man, scripture says, is prone to evil;
But does that vindicate the devil?
Besides, the more mankind are prone,
The less the devil's parts are shown.
Corruption 's not of modern date;
It hath been try'd in ev'ry state:
Great knaves of old their power have fenc'd
By places, pensions, bribes, dispens'd;
By these they glory'd in success,
And impudently dar'd oppress;
By these despotickly they sway'd,
And slaves extoll'd the hand that pay'd;
Nor parts nor genius were employ'd,
By these alone were realms destroy'd.
Now see these wretches in disgrace,
Stript of their treasures, power and place;
View 'em abandon'd and forlorn,
Expos'd to just reproach and scorn.
What now is all your pride, your boast?
Where are your slaves, your flatt'ring host?
What tongues now feed you with applause?
Where are the champions of your cause?
Now ev'n that very fawning train,
Which shar'd the gleanings of your gain,
Press foremost who shall first accuse
Your selfish jobs, your paultry views,
Your narrow schemes, your breach of trust,
And want of talents to be just.
What fools were these amidst their power!
How thoughtless of their adverse hour!
What friends were made? A hireling herd,
For temporary votes preferr'd.
Was it, these sycophants to get,
Your bounty swell'd a nation 's debt?
You're bit. For these, like Swiss, attend;
No longer pay, no longer friend.

The Lyon is (beyond dispute)
Allow'd the most majestick brute;
His valour and his gen'rous mind
Prove him superior of his kind.
Yet to Jackalls (as 'tis averr'd)
Some lyons have their power transferr'd;
As if the parts of pimps and spies
To govern forests could suffice.
Once, studious of his private good,
A proud Jackall opprest the wood,
To cramm his own insatiate jaws,
Invaded property and laws:
The forest groans with discontent,
Fresh wrongs the general hate foment.
The spreading murmurs reach'd his ear;
His secret hours were vex'd with fear:
Night after night he weighs the case,
And feels the terrors of disgrace.
By friends (says he) I'll guard my seat,
By those malicious tongues defeat;
I'll strengthen power by new allies,
And all my clam'rous foes despise.
To make the gen'rous beasts his friends,
He cringes, fawns and condescends;
But those repuls'd his abject court,
And scorn'd oppression to support.
Friends must be had. He can't subsist.
Bribes shall new proselytes enlist.
But these nought weigh'd in honest paws;
For bribes confess a wicked cause:
Yet think not ev'ry paw withstands
What had prevail'd in human hands.
A tempting turnip's silver skin
Drew a base hog through thick and thin;
Bought with a stag's delicious haunch,
The mercenary wolf was stanch;
The convert fox grew warm and hearty,
A pullet gain'd him to the party
The golden pippin in his fist,
A chatt'ring monkey join'd the list.
But soon, expos'd to publick hate,
The fav'rite's fall redress'd the state.
The Leopard, vindicating right,
Had brought his secret frauds to light.
As rats, before the mansion falls,
Desert late hospitable walls,
In shoals the servile creatures run,
To blow before the rising sun.
The hog with warmth exprest his zeal,
And was for hanging those that steal;
But hop'd, though low, the publick hoard
Might half a turnip still afford.
Since saving measures were profest,
A lamb's head was the wolf's request.
The fox submitted, if to touch
A goslin would be deem'd too much.
The monkey thought his grin and chatter
Might ask a nut or some such matter.
Ye hirelings, hence, the Leopard cries,
Your venal conscience I despise:
He, who the publick good intends,
By bribes needs never purchase friends;
Who acts this just, this open part,
Is propt by ev'ry honest heart.
Corruption now too late hath show'd,
That bribes are always ill-bestow'd:
By you your bubbled master's taught,
Time-serving tools, not friends, are bought.