Ijonsider  man  in  ev'ry  sphere,
Then  tell  me,  is  your  lor  severe  ?
'Tis  murmur,  discontent,  distrust,
That  makes  yon  wretched.   God  is  just.
I  grant  that  hunger  must  he  ted^
That  toil  too  earns  thy  daily  hread.
46         FABLES   RY  JOHN    GAY.
What  tiiea?  Thy  wants  are  seen  and  kno
But  ev'ry  morta;  feels  his  own.
We're  horn  a  restless  needy  crew  :
Shew  me  the  happier  man  than  you.
Adam,  though  bless'd  above  his  kind,
For  want  of  social  woman  pin'd.
Eve's  wants  the  subtle  serpent  saw,
Her  fickle  taste  transgress'd  the  law:
Thus  fell  our  sires  ;  and  their  disgrace
The  curse  eutail'd  on  human  race.
When  Philip's  son,  by  glory  led,
Had  o'er  the  globe  his  empire  spread ;
When  altars  to  his  name  were  dress'd,
That  he  was  man  his  tears  confess'd.
The  hopes  of  avarice  are  checkt :
The  proud  man  always  wants  respect.
What  various  wants  on  pow'r  attend.'
Ambition  never  gains  its  end.
Who  hath  not  heard  the  rich  complain
Of  surfeits  a-ad  corporeal  pain?
He,  barr'd  from  ev'ry  use  of  wealth,
Envies  the  ploughman's  strength  and  health.
Another  in  a  beauteous  wife
Finds  all  the  miseries  of  life  :
Donxestick  jars  aud  jealous  fear
Imbitter  all  his  days  wiih  care.
This  wants  an  heir;  the  line  is  lost  :
Why  was  that  vain  en  ail  ingrost?
Canst  thou  discern  another's  mind?
Why  is't  you  envy?  Envy's  blind.
Tell  Envy,  when  she  would  annoy,
That  thousands  want  what  you  enjoy.
The  dinner  must  be  i.ish'u  at  one.
Where's  this  vexatious  turnspit  gone?
Unless  the  sculkiug  cur  is  caught,
The  surloin's  spoil'd,  and  I'm  in  fault.
