The Poetical Works of Addison; Gay's Fables; and Somerville's Chase · Chapter 37Fable XXXIX
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The man to Jove his suit preferred; He begged a wife. His prayer was heard, Jove wondered at his bold addressing: For how precarious is the blessing! A wife he takes. And now for heirs Again he worries heaven with prayers. Jove nods assent. Two hopeful boys And a fine girl reward his joys. Now, more solicitous he grew, And set their future lives in view; _10 He saw that all respect and duty Were paid to wealth, to power, and beauty. 'Once more,' he cries, 'accept my prayer; Make my loved progeny thy care. Let my first hope, my favourite boy, All fortune's richest gifts enjoy. My next with strong ambition fire: May favour teach him to aspire; Till he the step of power ascend, And courtiers to their idol bend. _20 With every grace, with every charm, My daughter's perfect features arm. If heaven approve, a father's bless'd.' Jove smiles, and grants his full request. The first, a miser at the heart, Studious of every griping art, Heaps hoards on hoards with anxious pain; And all his life devotes to gain. He feels no joy, his cares increase, He neither wakes nor sleeps in peace; _30 In fancied want (a wretch complete) He starves, and yet he dares not eat. The next to sudden honours grew: The thriving art of Courts he knew: He reached the height of power and place; Then fell, the victim of disgrace. Beauty with early bloom supplies His daughter's cheek, and points her eyes. The vain coquette each suit disdains, And glories in her lover's pains. _40 With age she fades, each lover flies; Contemned, forlorn, she pines and dies. When Jove the father's grief surveyed, And heard him Heaven and Fate upbraid, Thus spoke the god: 'By outward show, Men judge of happiness and woe: Shall ignorance of good and ill Dare to direct the eternal will? Seek virtue; and, of that possess'd, To Providence resign the rest' _50
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