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

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СКАЧАТЬ real pleasures, comforts, ease, 200

      To such a height, the very poor

Liv’d better than the rich before. And nothing could be added more.

      How vain is mortal happiness!

      Had they but known the bounds of bliss; 205

      And that perfection here below

      Is more than gods can well bestow;

      The grumbling brutes had been content

      With ministers and government.

      But they, at every ill success, 210

      Like creatures lost without redress,

      Curs’d politicians, armies, fleets;

      While every one cry’d, damn the cheats,

      And would, though conscious of his own,

      In others barb’rously bear none. 215

      One, that had got a princely store,

      By cheating master, king, and poor,

      Dar’d cry aloud, the land must sink

      For all its fraud; and whom d’ye think

      The sermonizing rascal chid? 220

      A glover that sold lamb for kid.

      The least thing was not done amiss,

      Or cross’d the public business;

      But all the rogues cry’d brazenly,

      Good gods, had we but honesty! 225

      Merc’ry smil’d at th’ impudence,

      And others call’d it want of sense,

      Always to rail at what they lov’d:

      But Jove with indignation mov’d,

      At last in anger swore, he’d rid 230

      The bawling hive of fraud; and did.

      The very moment it departs,

      And honesty fills all their hearts;

      There shows ’em, like th’ instructive tree,

      Those crimes which they’re asham’d to see; 235

      Which now in silence they confess,

      By blushing at their ugliness:

      Like children, that would hide their faults,

      And by their colour own their thoughts:

      Imag’ning, when they’re look’d upon, 240

      That others see what they have done.

      But, O ye gods! what consternation,

      How vast and sudden was th’ alteration!

      In half an hour, the nation round,

      Meat fell a penny in the pound. 245

      The mask hypocrisy’s sitting down,

      From the great statesman to the clown:

      And in some borrow’d looks well known,

      Appear’d like strangers in their own.

      The bar was silent from that day; 250

      For now the willing debtors pay,

      Ev’n what’s by creditors forgot;

      Who quitted them that had it not.

      Those that were in the wrong, stood mute,

      And dropt the patch’d vexatious suit: 255

      On which since nothing else can thrive,

      Than lawyers in an honest hive,

      All, except those that got enough,

      With inkhorns by their sides troop’d off.

      Justice hang’d some, set others free; 260

      And after gaol delivery,

      Her presence being no more requir’d,

      With all her train and pomp retir’d.

      First march’d some smiths with locks and grates,

      Fetters, and doors with iron plates: 265

      Next gaolers, turnkeys and assistants:

      Before the goddess, at some distance,

      Her chief and faithful minister,

      ’Squire Catch, the law’s great finisher,

      Bore not th’ imaginary sword, 270

      But his own tools, an ax and cord:

      Then on a cloud the hood-wink’d fair,

      Justice herself was push’d by air:

      About her chariot, and behind,

      Were serjeants, bums of every kind, 275

      Tip-staffs, and all those officers,

      That squeeze a living out of tears.

      Though physic liv’d, while folks were ill,

      None would prescribe, but bees of skill,

      Which through the hive dispers’d so wide, 280

      That none of them had need to ride;

      Wav’d vain disputes, and strove to free

      The patients of their misery;

      Left drugs in cheating countries grown,

      And us’d the product of their own; 285

      Knowing the gods sent no disease,

      To nations without remedies.

      Their clergy rous’d from laziness,

      Laid not their charge on journey-bees;

      But serv’d themselves, exempt from vice, 290

      The gods with pray’r and sacrifice;

      All those, that were unfit, or knew,

      Their service might be spar’d, withdrew:

      Nor was their business for so many,

      (If СКАЧАТЬ