The Freeman's Journal, Or, New Hampshire Gazette

POET'S CORNER.

The birds, upon a time not nam'd,
Against the beasts a war proclaim'd;
And threaten'd from their airy station,
Plunder, and blood, and devastation,
By fire, and sword, and quick invasion.
The beasts appall'd to Council go,
For ways and means to ward the blow,
And humble the insulting foe.
At length a brute of penetration,
Rever'd and lov'd by all the nation,
After long harangue made a motion,
For strong alliance with the ocean.
"Invite (quoth he) the fish to treaty,
Or else the birds will surely beat ye;
But with the herrings kind assistance,
You'll make no doubt a good resistance:
To such a force the birds must yield,
And we shall drive them from the field."
The motion pleas'd—they give assent,
The Envoy on the errand went;
The treaty's sign'd, the herrings granted,
Their friends the succors which they wanted,
For which, in full consideration,
They made, without a limitation,
Their terms for coin and navigation.
The feathered host advances made;
The beasts call in the fish to aid.
The fish reply'd, that they were there,
But not indeed prepar'd for war;
And—that they could not understand,
Who could expect their aid on land:
They made the league with great good-will,
With true intention to fulfill;
But could not take a resolution,
Which must affect their Constitution;
And therefore beg'd the beasts excuse,
If they their succours should refuse.
The fable teaches to beware
Of false dependencies in war,
Of faithless treaties, treach'rous friends,
Who seek alone their private ends,
Who would betray the common cause,
To gain a tyrant's vile applause;
Or, brib'd by fair and sordid gold,
Have liberty and conscience sold.