Page:Poems of Anne Countess of Winchilsea 1903.djvu/306

 168 THE POEMS OF ANNE �Nay then Farewell! I need no more attend The Quack replies. A sad approaching Friend Questions the Sick, why he retires so fast; Who says, because of Fees I've paid the Last, And, whilst all Symptoms tow'rd my Cure agree, Am, for the Setter, Dying as you see. 50 �THE JESTEK AND THE LITTLE FISHES A FABLE �Immitated from the French �Far, from Societies where I haue place Be all half Witts, and Acters of grimace ; Buffoons, and Mimmicks, quoters of old saws, The easy purchasers of dull Applause; Still, plagues to men of true, but modest sence, Who, must not take, though Jesters give offence; Nor, yett, oppose the Laughers, and the cry, And but by Silence, their assent deny. �A Jester, was the man, of whom we treate �Though now, more Innocent was his conceit 10 �And, not for mischeif utter'd but for meat. �Receiv'd a Guest, at such a plenteous Board �As did of Fish, all rarities affoard, �It griev'd him sore, that next to him were plac'd �By chance, or malice, but the worst and least, �Whilst, at the upper end, his greedy Eye �Survey'd such Fish, as Killigrew might buy ; �A Smelt at length, from out his slender cheer �He draws, and seems to whisper in itts ear; �Does then another, and another, take, 20 �And with them all, in private, feigns to speak, �The luckyer feeders, for a moment ceas'd, ��� �