Part 38 (2/2)

First giving the ashes a scratch, He open'd the coveted batch; Then lightly and quickly impinging, He drew out, in spite of the singeing, One after another, the chestnuts at last-- While Bertrand contrived to devour them as fast.

A servant girl enters. Adieu to the fun.

Our Ratto was hardly contented, says one.

_No more are the princes, by flattery paid For furnis.h.i.+ng help in a different trade, And burning their fingers to bring More power to some mightier king._

The Lioness and the Bear

The Lioness had lost her young; A hunter stole it from the vale; The forests and the mountains rung Responsive to her hideous wail.

Nor night, nor charms of sweet repose, Could still the loud lament that rose From that grim forest queen.

No animal, as you might think, With such a noise could sleep a wink.

A Bear presumed to intervene.

”One word, sweet friend,” quoth she, ”And that is all, from me.

The young that through your teeth have pa.s.sed, In file unbroken by a fast, Had they nor dam nor sire?”

”They had them both.” ”Then I desire, Since all their deaths caused no such grievous riot, While mothers died of grief beneath your fiat, To know why you yourself cannot be quiet?”

”I quiet!--I!--a wretch bereaved!

My only son!--such anguish be relieved!

No, never! All for me below Is but a life of tears and woe!”-- ”But say, why doom yourself to sorrow so?”

”Alas! 'tis Destiny that is my foe.”

_Such language, since the mortal fall, Has fallen from the lips of all.

Ye human wretches, give your heed; For your complaints there's little need.

Let him who thinks his own the hardest case, Some widowed, childless Hecuba behold, Herself to toil and shame of slavery sold, And he will own the wealth of heavenly grace._

The Cat and the Two Sparrows

Contemporary with a Sparrow tame There lived a Cat; from tenderest age, Of both, the basket and the cage Had household G.o.ds the same.

The Bird's sharp beak full oft provoked the Cat, Who play'd in turn, but with a gentle pat, His wee friend sparing with a merry laugh, Not punis.h.i.+ng his faults by half.

In short, he scrupled much the harm, Should he with points his ferule arm.

The Sparrow, less discreet than he, With dagger beak made very free.

Sir Cat, a person wise and staid, Excused the warmth with which he play'd: For 'tis full half of friends.h.i.+p's art To take no joke in serious part.

Familiar since they saw the light, Mere habit kept their friends.h.i.+p good; Fair play had never turn'd to fight, Till, of their neighbourhood, Another sparrow came to greet Old Ratto grave and Saucy Pete.

Between the birds a quarrel rose, And Ratto took his side.

”A pretty stranger, with such blows To beat our friend!” he cried.

”A neighbour's sparrow eating ours!

Not so, by all the feline powers.”

And quick the stranger he devours.

”Now, truly,” saith Sir Cat, ”I know how sparrows taste by that.

Exquisite, tender, delicate!”

This thought soon seal'd the other's fate.

But hence what moral can I bring?

For, lacking that important thing, A fable lacks its finis.h.i.+ng: I seem to see of one some trace, But still its shadow mocks my chase.

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