Tunc omnia rebar
Confilio firmata Dei.
Believe that many ferious and contemplative minds have been frequently embarrass'd, in their reflections upon the hurtful animals of the creation. But I am thoroughly perfuaded, that all the difficulties which occur in fuch fpeculations, arise from the imperfection of our knowledge. We know very little of the system around us: Whence it is no wonder that we are loft and confounded, amidst the various exhibitions of Almighty Power. Anatomifts affure us, that there are, in the human ftructure, many appearances, which are inexplicable. The ufes of that confiderable organ, the spleen, are by no means fatisfactorily afcertained, even at this period. I have learnt, by incidental conversations with the faculty, that there are still numberless doubts refting upon the defigns and fecretions of the most important Vifcera. I am told that the brain is such a complicated piece of divine work
manfhip, as to puzzle the moft curious and diligent enquirers into this ftupendous fabric. If we are fo poorly acquainted with ourselves, how cautious and modeft ought we to be in our ftrictures upon subjects, which are of a more extrinfic and foreign nature?
But, with your permiffion, I will endeavour to give an air of novelty to my further fentiments, by cloathing them in the drefs of a Fable, which, perhaps, may not be altogether unacceptable to the younger part of your readers. I am, Sir,
Your moft humble fervant.
The folly of paffing an hafty and derogatory judgment upon the noxious Animals of the Creation.
Beau imported fresh from France,
Whose study was to drefs and dance;
Who had betimes in Gallia's school,
Grafted the coxcomb on the fool;
Approach'd a Grove one fummer's day,
To fhade him from the fcorching ray:
When ftrait a Viper's folds were seen,
Sparkling with azure gold and green.
The Beau indignant, vain, and proud,
Reprefs'd his fteps, and cry'd aloud:
Detefted fiend! forego the light,
Avaunt, thou torture to my fight;
To every reptile a difgrace,
And fatal to the human race.
'Tis ftrange philofophers maintain,
Nature created nought in vain ;
For what emoluments can fpring
From the fell fcorpions deadly fting?
Or, what avail the viperine bands,
Marshall'd on Libya's burning fands?
What ills arife, when locufts reign,
Whofe armies defolate the plain?
Well may their legions fcatter fear,
When famine follows 'in their rear !
What herds bewail the tyger's jaw?
What flocks the wolf's infatiate maw?
How many feather'd tyrants fhare
The fpacious empire of the air?
Rivers deftructive hofts contain,
Devouring myriads crowd the main:
Thus when we view this nether sphere,
Nor goodness nor defign appear.
The Viper rais'd his angry creft,
An honeft warmth infpir'd his breast:
His hiffings ftruck the fopling's ear,
And fhook his daftard foul with fear.
Inglorious wretch! the Viper cries,
How dare you broach infernal lies!
If ought's defective in the plan,
'Tis that ungrateful reptile, man.
Come, lay your haughty airs afide,
For emptiness fuits ill with pride;
Science and worth disclaim all part,
When levities engrofs the heart.
What, tho' in borrow'd gold you shine,
Pale is your gold, compar'd with mine:
Your veftments boast a garter-blue,
My azure is
my native hue :
You to your Taylor owe fuccefs;
A Viper fcorns fictitious drefs.
You call me fatal to your race—
Was ever charge fo false and base?
You can't in all your annals find,
Uninjur'd Vipers hurt mankind.
Uninjur❜d men in mifchief deal,
We only bite the hostile heel.
Do not we yield our lives to feed *,
And fave your vile diftemper'd breed?
When leprofy pollutes your veins,
Do not we purge the loathfome stains?
When riot and excefs prevail,
And health, and ftrength, and fpirits fail,
Doctors from us their aids derive,
Hence penitential Rakes revive;
We bleed to make the caitiffs dine,
Or drown to medicate their wine.
You afk, my poifon to what end?
Minute philofopher, attend,
* Upon fome occafions Vipers are dreffed and ferved to table like eels.
Nature munificent and wife,
To all our wants adapts fupplies.
Our frames are fuited to our need,
Hence grey-hounds are endued with speed.
But, fceptick-doth not speed imply
Or legs to run, or wings to fly?
These are by birds and beasts engrost,
Speed cannot be the Viper's boast.
Lions by force their prey subdue,
From force their regal pow'r they drew:
But ftrength, altho' the Lion's fame,
Was never known the Viper's claim:
Obferve, when I unroll my length-
Say, is my ftructure made for ftrength?
My jaws are form'd by nature weak,
Hence poifon lurks within my cheek:
As lightning, quick my fangs convey
This liquid to my wounded prey:
The venom thus infures my bite,
For wounds preclude the victim's flight.
But whence this painful juice, you cry,
To make the wretched captive dye?
Why not poffefs'd of ftronger jaws ?
Or arm'd like favage brutes with claws?
Can fuch weak arguments perfuade?
Afk rather, why were Vipers made?
My frame compleat in every part,
Proclaims aloud my Maker's art.
I ne'er at birds, or beafts repine,
Nor wish their different talents mine.
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