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Title: The Turkey And The Ant
Author: John Gay [
More Titles by Gay]
We blame the mote that dims the eye
Of other men, whose faults we spy;
But we ignore the beam that lies
With stronger strain in one's own eyes.
A turkey, who grew dull at home,
Resolved in the wild woods to roam;
Wearied she was of barn-door food,
Therefore she chuckled round her brood,
And said, "My little ones, now follow;
We'll go and dine in yonder hollow."
They first upon an ant-hill fell--
Myriads of negro-ants, pell-mell--
"O gobble, gobble--here's a treat!
Emmets are most delicious meat;
Spare not, spare not. How blest were we,
Could we here live from poulterers free!
Accursed man on turkeys preys,
Christmas to us no holy-days;
When with the oyster-sauce and chine
We roast that aldermen may dine.
They call us 'alderman in chains,'
With sausages--the stupid swains!
Ah! gluttony is sure the first
Of all the seven sins--the worst!
I'd choke mankind, had I the power,
From peasant's hut to lordly bower."
An ant, who on a neighbouring beech
Had climbed the trunk beyond her reach,
Thus said to her: "You turkey-hen,
What right have you to rail on men?
You nor compunction know nor feel,
But gobble nations at a meal!"
[The end]
John Gay's poem: Turkey And The Ant
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