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[Page 1]
The Serpent & The Man
a Petro-Pendaric Tale
being a Poetical state of the Controversy
between a Right Honorable Baronet
and a Right Irritable Colonel
No. 7 8
1
a slow worm, who had long time Lain at Rest,
in the warm centre of an x Emmets nest,
Mids & Ants, who daily Toil & hourly fret,
but are not on the whole extremely nice,
if by Deep cunning, or by shrewd advice,
Their neighbor insects they can overset;
Urgd by a Fit of mad Ambition,
Resolvd to better its Conditions,
To creep into the world, and anxious try,
To fit Place itself in better company.
2
T'was on a morn in April, bright, & Gay,
Clear shone the Sun, & Genial was the day,
When the wild worm Crawld forth, & full of Glee,
Waving the Colors Glistening on Each Scale,
& wriggling brisk about, from head to tail
cried, Surely folks of Taste will Fancy me.
but when the sun retird to Rest
by nights Chill influence oppressd,
Torpid at day, unable to Regain
its ants nest, or new harbor to Obtain.
3
A man Good naturd, who at break of Day
Chancd to be Passing where the Reptile Lay,
Observd it, Cold & Stiff, & void of motion;
Poor thing said hey, I'le try to make you warm,
I'le do you Good, why should you do me harm
You need ought not, so you wont, & thats my notion.
He Placed the Serpent near his nest,
Resolvd, new vigor to impart,
Indifferent what the Consequence might be,
of Pity Sweet, & Pure humanity.
4
Soon as the Creature felt its heat renewd,
Ambitions Precepts, briskly it Pursued,
& Gliding slily up, behind the back,
it Reard itself aloft above the head
of its Protector, & insulting said;
x Pennant tells us, that the Serpent Calld a Slow worm is often found in the middle of an ant nest