Part 36 (2/2)
The Fox, the Wolf, and the Horse
A Fox, though young, by no means raw, Had seen a Horse, the first he ever saw: ”Ho! neighbour Wolf,” said he to one quite green, ”A creature in our meadow I have seen-- Sleek, grand! I seem to see him yet-- The finest beast I ever met.”
”Is he a stouter one than we?”
The Wolf demanded, eagerly; ”Some picture of him let me see.”
”If I could paint,” said Fox, ”I should delight T' antic.i.p.ate your pleasure at the sight; But come; who knows? perhaps it is a prey By fortune offer'd in our way.”
They went. The Horse, turn'd loose to graze, Not liking much their looks and ways, Was just about to gallop off.
”Sir,” said the Fox, ”your humble servants, we Make bold to ask you what your name may be.”
The Horse, an animal with brains enough, Replied, ”Sirs, you yourselves may read my name; My sh.o.e.r round my heel hath writ the same.”
The Fox excus'd himself for want of knowledge: ”Me, sir, my parents did not educate, So poor, a hole was their entire estate.
My friend, the Wolf, however, taught at college, Could read it, were it even Greek.”
The Wolf, to flattery weak, Approached to verify the boast; For which four teeth he lost.
The high raised hoof came down with such a blow As laid him bleeding on the ground full low.
”My brother,” said the Fox, ”this shows how just What once was taught me by a fox of wit-- Which on thy jaws this animal hath writ-- 'All unknown things the wise mistrust.'”
The Woodman and Mercury
A Man that laboured in the wood Had lost his honest livelihood; That is to say, His axe was gone astray.
He had no tools to spare; This wholly earn'd his fare.
Without a hope beside, He sat him down and cried, ”Alas, my axe! where can it be?
O Jove! but send it back to me, And it shall strike good blows for thee.”
His prayer in high Olympus heard, Swift Mercury started at the word.
”Your axe must not be lost,” said he: ”Now, will you know it when you see?
An axe I found upon the road.”
With that an axe of gold he show'd.
”Is't this?” The Woodman answer'd, ”Nay.”
An axe of silver, bright and gay, Refused the honest Woodman too.
At last the finder brought to view An axe of iron, steel, and wood.
”That's mine,” he said, in joyful mood; ”With that I'll quite contented be.”
The G.o.d replied, ”I give the three, As due reward of honesty.”
This luck when neighbouring choppers knew, They lost their axes, not a few, And sent their prayers to Jupiter So fast, he knew not which to hear.
His winged son, however, sent With gold and silver axes, went.
Each would have thought himself a fool Not to have own'd the richest tool.
But Mercury promptly gave, instead Of it, a blow upon the head.
_With simple truth to be contented, Is surest not to be repented: But still there are who would With evil trap the good, Whose cunning is but stupid, For Jove is never duped._
The Eagle and the Owl
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