The Poetical Works of Addison; Gay's Fables; and Somerville's Chase · Chapter 39Fable XLI
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An owl of grave deport and mien, Who (like the Turk) was seldom seen, Within a barn had chose his station, As fit for prey and contemplation. Upon a beam aloft he sits, And nods, and seems to think by fits. So have I seen a man of news, Or Post-boy, or Gazette peruse; Smoke, nod, and talk with voice profound, And fix the fate of Europe round. _10 Sheaves piled on sheaves, hid all the floor; At dawn of morn, to view his store The farmer came. The hooting guest His self-importance thus express'd: 'Reason in man is mere pretence: How weak, how shallow is his sense! To treat with scorn the bird of night, Declares his folly, or his spite. Then too, how partial is his praise! The lark's, the linnet's chirping lays _20 To his ill-judging ears are fine; And nightingales are all divine. But the more knowing feathered race See wisdom stamped upon my face. Whene'er to visit light I deign, What flocks of fowl compose my train! Like slaves they crowd my flight behind, And own me of superior kind.' The farmer laughed, and thus replied: 'Thou dull important lump of pride, _30 Dar'st thou with that harsh grating tongue, Depreciate birds of warbling song? Indulge thy spleen. Know, men and fowl Regard thee, as thou art an owl. Besides, proud blockhead, be not vain, Of what thou call'st thy slaves and train. Few follow wisdom or her rules; Fools in derision follow fools.'
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