1 ^SO?S F ABIES. 2$ This faid, the King admiring that a Moufe Should fuch a Monfter's mighty Soul unhoufe, Seizing the Piamater of his Brain, And there with death, and fullen darknefs reign : Signs his Difmifs, then feeks R epofe again. Soon as to th'Eaft tall Shades began to creep, The Lyon rofe,and fhakes off drowfie Sleep: Feafts for his pregnant Queen muft now be fought In fields remote far fetch'd, as dear was bought, The roring King in a ftrong Net is caught, Laid by a fubtile Sun-burnt African; While he his great ftrength us'd, and ftrove in vain, T wifted grates gnawing of his Hempen Cage, The Micean heard th'indulgent Lyon rage, And grateful ftreight to free him did engage. Firft hunts out bufily to find the Cord Which clos'd the Snare, which found, as with a Sword, His teeth (before well on an old Cheefe fet) Cleers all the Mefhes of the tangling Net. When thus the Lyon fpake at freedom fet: Kings be to Sub/e&s mild; and when you move In higheft Spheres, with Mercy purchafe Love. From private Grudges oft great Princes have 'Midir. Triumphs met with an untimely grave: ^ve And Swains have Power fometimes their Lords to Moral. Mercy macs Princes Gods ; but mildefl Thrones Are often fhoowith huge Rebellions : Small Help may bring great Ayd} and better far Is Policy than Strength in Peace or War.