Of the Eagle and the Daw

1:04. OF THE EAGLE AND THE DAW.
The Royal Eagle, when the Ocean's dark
Waves had retir'd to their low water mark,
Weary with grosser food, and bloody meat,
Forsakes his Cedar Court and mountain Seat
To seek fresh banquets; nothing that the Ark
Contain'd could please, Kid, Pidgeon, Lamb, nor Lark,
Nor Humane slaughter moyst with putrid gore
His gorge with surfeit weaken'd could put ore.
Shell-fish being salt
Might cure the fault,
That onely must his former health restore.
When his quick Eye piercing the Air a mile,
Upon the Sea-wash'd Margents of an Isle
A scollop found: which was in shell so lock'd
That if the Devil and his Dam had knock'd,
They might have staid for entrance a while.
Without successe long did the Eagle toyl,
His Beak grows blunt, his griping Tallons ake,
No storm nor Stratagem the Fort will take:
When the slie Daw
The leagure saw,
Thus to his King and Royal Master spake.
Prince of the plumed Citizens, to whom
We come for Justice, and receive our Doom,
Your Highness hath been pleas'd to take advice
From silly Birds, from pratling Daws and Pies,
And oft great Kings will hear the meanest Groom.
Not far from hence (Sir) stands an antient Tomb
Hard as the Adamantine Gates of Hell,
Mount with that Fish Enchanted by a Spell,
Lessen to a Lark
Then take your Mark,
And on hard Marble break th' obdurate shell.
This Counsel pleas'd the Feather'd King: who straight
'Bove Clouds and winged Tempests made a flight:
So high he soar'd, till Earth's magnetick force
Would not have hinder'd to the Stars his course;
Then let the Scollop fall, where its own weight
Made a wide passage to the lushious Freight.
Soon as the hungry Daw perceiv'd the prize,
He stood not to consult, but in he flies;
And straight did eat
The Delicate,
Then to the sheltring Wood for safety hies.
When th' Eagle this from Heavens bright Arches saw,
With a deep Sigh he said; Ah Treacherous Daw!
By fair pretence, and counsel seeming good,
Thou hast depriv'd me of my dainty food.
Thus cunning Foxes use the Lyon's Paw;
And by these Arts Subjects from Princes draw
Soveraignty to themselves: the Monarch's wing
Must be stretch'd out to his own ruining;
No other power
So high can towre,
'Tis the King only must destroy the King.
Moral.
Let Princes of the best Advice beware,
Nor trust the Greedy, they still Treacherous are:
Subjects to Kings Exchequers have no way,
Unless themselves deliver up the Key.
[more info]