"it sounds presumptuous and ill

to boast of universal skill,

but 'tis a scarce less fault, i own,

to serve one sort of use alone."

an idle parasol, one day,

within a lady's chamber lay,

and having nothing else to do,

addressing his companions two,

reclining near, a muff and fan,

he thus insultingly began,

using a form of dialect,

in which, if aesop is correct,

the brass and earthern jars, of old,

conversed as down the stream they rolled.

"oh! sirs, ye merit mighty praise!

yon muff may do for wintry days,

a corner is your lot in spring;

while you, fan, are a useless thing

when cold succeeds to heat; for neither

can change yourself to suit the weather

learn, if you're able to possess,

like me a double usefulness,

from winter's rain i help to shun

and guard in summer from the sun."