The Fable of the Bees (Philosophy Study). Bernard Mandeville

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СКАЧАТЬ style="font-size:15px;">      More fickleness, or less content:

      They were not slaves to tyranny.

      Nor rul’d by wild democracy; 10

      But kings, that could not wrong, because

      Their power was circumscrib’d by laws.

      These insects liv’d like men, and all

      Our actions they performed in small:

      They did whatever’s done in town, 15

      And what belongs to sword or gown:

      Though th’ artful works, by nimble slight

      Of minute limbs, ’scap’d human sight;

      Yet we’ve no engines, labourers,

      Ships, castles, arms, artificers, 20

      Craft, science, shop, or instrument,

      But they had an equivalent:

      Which, since their language is unknown,

      Must be call’d, as we do our own.

      As grant, that among other things, 25

      They wanted dice, yet they had kings;

      And those had guards; from whence we may

      Justly conclude, they had some play;

      Unless a regiment be shown

      Of soldiers, that make use of none. 30

      Vast numbers throng’d the fruitful hive;

      Yet those vast numbers made ’em thrive;

      Millions endeavouring to supply

      Each other’s lust and vanity;

      While other millions were employ’d, 35

      To see their handy-works destroy’d;

      They furnish’d half the universe;

      Yet had more work than labourers.

      Some with vast flocks, and little pains,

      Jump’d into business of great gains; 40

      And some were damn’d to scythes and spades,

      And all those hard laborious trades;

      Where willing wretches daily sweat,

      And wear out strength and limbs to eat:

      While others follow’d mysteries, 45

      To which few folks binds ’prentices;

      That want no stock, but that of brass,

      And may set up without a cross;

      As sharpers, parasites, pimps, players,

      Pickpockets, coiners, quacks, soothsayers, 50

      And all those, that in enmity,

      With downright working, cunningly

      Convert to their own use the labour

      Of their good-natur’d heedless neighbour.

      These were call’d Knaves, but bar the name, 55

      The grave industrious were the same:

      All trades and places knew some cheat,

      No calling was without deceit.

      The lawyers, of whose art the basis

      Was raising feuds and splitting cases, 60

      Oppos’d all registers, that cheats

      Might make more work with dipt estates;

      As were’t unlawful, that one’s own,

      Without a law-suit, should be known.

      They kept off hearings wilfully, 65

      To finger the refreshing fee;

      And to defend a wicked cause,

      Examin’d and survey’d the laws,

      As burglar’s shops and houses do,

      To find out where they’d best break through. 70

      Physicians valu’d fame and wealth

      Above the drooping patient’s health,

      Or their own skill: the greatest part

      Study’d, instead of rules of art,

      Grave pensive looks and dull behaviour, 75

      To gain th’ apothecary’s favour;

      The praise of midwives, priests, and all

      That serv’d at birth or funeral.

      To bear with th’ ever-talking tribe,

      And hear my lady’s aunt prescribe; 80

      With formal smile, and kind how d’ye,

      To fawn on all the family;

      And, which of all the greatest curse is,

      T’ endure th’ impertinence of nurses.

      Among the many priests of Jove, 85

      Hir’d to draw blessings from above,

      Some few were learn’d and eloquent,

      But thousands hot and ignorant:

      Yet all pass’d muster that could hide

      Their sloth, lust, avarice and pride; 90

      For which they were as fam’d as tailors

      For cabbage, or for brandy sailors,

      Some, meagre-look’d, and meanly clad,

      Would mystically pray for bread,

      Meaning by that an ample store, 95

      Yet lit’rally received no more;

      And, while these holy drudges starv’d,

      The lazy ones, for which they serv’d,

      Indulg’d their ease, with all the graces

      Of health and plenty in their faces. 100

      The soldiers, that were forc’d to fight,

      If they surviv’d, got СКАЧАТЬ