Fable: The Wolf and the Crane

A Wolf once eating at a Club,
To eat his Brethren out did sup
Something too greedily on Mutton,
(Wols's soon convertible to Glutton);
Yet tho he made enormous hast,
He was resolv'd to make no wast,
A Bone which in his Throat did stray,
Took up its lodging by the way.
The Crane's arrival was opportune,
Order'd for Isgrim's good by fortune.
Who is a friend to Fools, and so
To Rogues she can't be term'd a foe.
Isgrim, no better was than such,
Or Chronicle has wrong'd him much.
And now he to the Crane makes signs,
And to assist him she inclines.
Now th' Operati falls to work,
And pulls the Bone out with a Jerk.
When
Neighbour, says he, I must begon.
Sir, says the Crane, before we're parted,
I'd for my labour be rewarded.
Rewarded, sayst thou, for thy labour?
Hey day! why sure you mock me, Neighbour.
When in my Jaws I had thy slim Gullet,
By special grace thou out didst pull it.
And yet forsooth, before we're parted,
You'd for your labour be rewarded.
Go, Gossip, you're impertinent;
And, let me tell you, impudent.
Go, I hate such ungrateful wretches,
'Slife! come no more within my Clutches.

Moral.

HE who takes care t' oblige th' ungrateful, when
After much time and pains he's found a Bubble;
Bilk'd in his hopes, mistaken in his men,
Will be to shame abandon'd and to trouble.

For we from Pride, or Love or Interest foe,
That bounteous actions generally spring.
And disappointment to either of these three,
Rage, Discontent, or red hot Shame must bring.

The brave mans bounties almost always flow,
From generous pride of doing good to Merit.
Such a one's highly then concern'd to know
The worthy from the base ungrateful spirit.

For moderate benefits, this Rule may serve,
If one's oblig'd, whose Sense and Iudgment's good;
From Graitude he'l ne're be seen to swerve:
Gratitude's Interest, rightly understood.

But if you would oblige to that degree,
That the oblig'd must make his fortune byt.
For something in him besides Iudgment see,
Since t'will not be his interest to requite.

He will not probably ungrateful be,
Whose actions still have Faithful been and Iust.
Who never unprovok'd did injury,
And never tho provok'd betray'd his Trust.

Favours receiv'd are debts, and bounteous acts,
Tho Bumble-case no Bond or Iudgment draws;
Oblige us more to pay when time exacts,
By frankly leaving us to Honour's Laws.

Then twice th' ungrateful in one act offends,
His falshood and Injustice toodisplays:
Kind Benefactors basely wrongs and Friends,
And the most free and generous Trust betrays.