| Alexander Pope (1688–1744). Complete Poetical Works. 1903. | | | | Poems of Uncertain Date | | Verbatim from Boileau |
| | First Published by Warburton in 1751
Un jour, dit un auteur, etc.
ONCE (says an author, where I need not say) | |
| Two travellers found an Oyster in their way: | |
| Both fierce, both hungry, the dispute grew strong, | |
| While, scale in hand, dame Justice pass’d along. | |
| Before her each with clamour pleads the laws, | 5 |
| Explain’d the matter, and would win the cause. | |
| Dame Justice weighing long the doubtful right, | |
| Takes, opens, swallows it before their sight. | |
| The cause of strife remov’d so rarely well, | |
| ‘There take (says Justice), take ye each a shell. | 10 |
| We thrive at Westminster on fools like you: | |
| ’T was a fat Oyster—Live in peace—Adieu.’ | | | | |
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