24
THE ELEPHANT
Had all past Muster, by mischance,
490 Both for the Sub, and Privolvans.
This, b'ing discover'd, put them all
Into a fresh, and fiercer Brawl,
Asham'd, that Men so grave and wise
Should be chaldes'd by Gnats and Flies,[1]
495 And take the feeble Insects' Swarms
For mighty Troops of Men at Arms;
As vain as those, who when the Moon
Bright in a crystal River shone,
Threw Casting-nets as fu'tly at her,
500 To catch and pull her out o' th' Water.
But, when they had unscrew'd the Glass,
To find out, where th' Impostor was,
And saw the Mouse, that by mishap,
Had made the Telescope a Trap,[2]
490 Both for the Sub, and Privolvans.
This, b'ing discover'd, put them all
Into a fresh, and fiercer Brawl,
Asham'd, that Men so grave and wise
Should be chaldes'd by Gnats and Flies,[1]
495 And take the feeble Insects' Swarms
For mighty Troops of Men at Arms;
As vain as those, who when the Moon
Bright in a crystal River shone,
Threw Casting-nets as fu'tly at her,
500 To catch and pull her out o' th' Water.
But, when they had unscrew'd the Glass,
To find out, where th' Impostor was,
And saw the Mouse, that by mishap,
Had made the Telescope a Trap,[2]
- ↑ Should be chaldes'd by Gnats, and Flies.] The Term chaldes'd we meet with in Hudibras in the same Sense. He stole your Cloak, and pick'd your Pocket,
Chorus'd and caldes'd you like a Blockhead.
Hudib. P. II. C. 3. ver. 1009. - ↑ 509, 510. That those who greedily pursue—Things wonderful, &c.] From this moral Application of the Whole, one may observe, that the Poet's real Intention in this Satire, was not to ridicule real and
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