The Philosopher, The Snail, and The Glow-worm

A GLOW-WORM sparkling on the ground,
Cast a faint lustre all around.
A Snail, who feasted at his ease,
First on the blossoms, then the pease,
Observing an uncommon light,
Was rather startled at the sight;
But drawing near, rejoic'd to see
An insect still more small than he.
A gleam of courage fill'd his breast,
An thus the Glow-worm he addrest--
        "Who dares think I come to plunder,
"Some mistake must labour under,

"Must bear suspicion in his mind,
"And not be very well inclin'd;
"Thus I'm astonish'd at the sight,
"To see an insect bearing light."
        "And pray why not?" the Glow-worm said:
"Suppose I light you home to bed;
"You are not sober, friend, I trow,
"For Glow-worms you must surely know."
        "I know you not," return'd the Snail,
"Nor will impertinence avail;
"You have a light, 'tis very true--
"I may destroy both it and you."
So on he march'd, with horns shot out;
The Glow-worm wisely turn'd about,
And all was dark. The angry Snail,
Perceiving he could not prevail,
Crawling off, exclaim'd--"To-morrow
"You'll behold me, to your sorrow."

        The morning rose, the Snail in spleen
Advanc'd, no Glow-worm could be seen.
The ground the owner came to view--
A philosophic man, 'twas true--
But when such ravages he found,
His anger overleap'd its bound.
        "I wish, in vengeance, I could see
"The Snail that maul'd this crop," cry'd he.
        Beneath a shrub there timid lay
The Worm, out glitter'd by the day;
But eager on the luckless Snail
A cruel mischief to entail,--
Urged by keen revenge, no doubt,--
His adversary pointed out.
        The accusation heard, the Man
Smiled, observing nature's plan,
Where each contrives his faults to skreen,
By testimony false and mean.
For failings if we can but smother,
None scruples 't accuse the other.

        "Why," cries he, "this sly informer!
"Hides he meanly in a corner?
"I meant not what I said, in troth,
"I am not so extreme in wrath,
"A hapless Snail to wish to kill,
"Because the creature ate his fill:
"They're surely insects that annoy;
"Aye, could I the whole race destroy--
"There I'm wrong, and impious too--
"What Nature doth, shall man undo?--
"Much I admire the wond'rous pow'r,
"In insect shewn, bird, brute, and flow'r;
"And own it as a great neglect,
"Never a Glow-worm to inspect.
"Methinks I have a strong desire,
"To see what 'tis resembles fire;
"And why these gems, of darkest night,
"Appear so luminous and bright."
So spoke the Man, when drawing near.
        "Last eve," the Snail exclaim'd, "just here,

"Appear'd the thing you want to see--
"The oddest insect that can be--
"Insolent--I did not mind him--
"If we search, I think we'll find him.
"Scandalous it was t' abuse me;
"Then this morning to accuse me."
        The Man reply'd--"Your tale don't move;
"I shall find reason to reprove:
"I'll seek the Glow-worm." So he sought,
And soon unto the light was brought
A grub, extremely dark and mean,
For nothing luminous was seen.
"Now," said he, "explain your story;
"When night cometh, I'll explore ye,
"Remark on your uncommon light,
"Then freedom give to him who's right;
"But the malignant I'll forsake,
"And kill him for example's sake."

        The facts explain'd against the Snail,
His condemnation could not fail;
For surely will an upright heart,
Justice unprejudic'd impart.
        Now the bright Glow-worm was observ'd
Accurately, as deserved;
Yet not illumin'd was the cause
How operated nature's laws:
The lustre, like sun, moon, and star,
All see, but none knows what they are;
Ev'ry object round they brighten,
Yet our minds do not enlighten;
Their splendour, more or less we mark,
But still we wander in the dark.
        Serious thoughts flow'd unforbidden,
As the Glow-worm had been chidden
For the malignity of heart,
In acting the informer's part.

        "Go hence," he cry'd, "and if bold zeal
"Direct thee vices to reveal,
"Pronounce them candidly and fair,
"So let the world know what you are."

MORAL.

For slight affront and private pique,
Be cautious t' accuse or speak.
Slander at first may credit gain,
But truth is eager to explain.
Then state your grievance true and fair,
And place it in the light 't will bear.

Original fables by a Lady

Printed by W. Calvert, Shire Lane, Lincoln's Inn, for B. Crosby and Co. London, 1810

To your Royal Highness the following Fables are dedicated, with a wish that in an interval of leisure some transient amusement may be obtained.