Part 39 (1/2)
The Sick Stag
A Stag, where stags abounded, Fell sick and was surrounded Forthwith by comrades kind, All--pressing to a.s.sist, Or see, their friend, at least, And ease his anxious mind-- An irksome mult.i.tude.
”Ah, sirs!” the sick was fain to cry, ”Pray leave me here to die, As others do, in solitude.
Pray, let your kind attentions cease, Till death my spirit shall release.”
But comforters are not so sent: On duty sad full long intent, When Heaven pleased, they went: But not without a friendly gla.s.s; That is to say, they cropp'd the gra.s.s And leaves which in that quarter grew, From which the sick his pittance drew.
By kindness thus compell'd to fast, He died for want of food at last.
_The men take off no trifling dole Who heal the body, or the soul.
Alas the times! do what we will, They have their payment, cure or kill._
The Wolf and the Fox
”Dear Wolf,” complain'd a hungry Fox, ”A lean chick's meat, or veteran c.o.c.k's, Is all I get by toil or trick: Of such a living I am sick.
With far less risk, you've better cheer; A house you need not venture near, But I must do it, spite of fear.
Pray, make me master of your trade.
And let me by that means be made The first of all my race that took Fat mutton to his larder's hook: Your kindness shall not be repented.”
The Wolf quite readily consented.
”I have a brother, lately dead: Go fit his skin to yours,” he said.
'Twas done; and then the wolf proceeded: ”Now mark you well what must be done The dogs that guard the flock to shun.”
The Fox the lessons strictly heeded.
At first he boggled in his dress; But awkwardness grew less and less, Till perseverance gave success.
His education scarce complete, A flock, his scholars.h.i.+p to greet, Came rambling out that way.
The new-made Wolf his work began, Amidst the heedless nibblers ran, And spread a sore dismay.
The bleating host now surely thought That fifty wolves were on the spot: Dog, shepherd, sheep, all homeward fled, And left a single sheep in p.a.w.n, Which Reynard seized when they were gone.
But, ere upon his prize he fed, There crow'd a c.o.c.k near by, and down The scholar threw his prey and gown, That he might run that way the faster-- Forgetting lessons, prize and master.
_Reality, in every station, Will burst out on the first occasion._
The Woods and the Woodman
A certain Wood-chopper lost or broke From his axe's eye a bit of oak.
The forest must needs be somewhat spared While such a loss was being repair'd.
Came the man at last, and humbly pray'd That the Woods would kindly lend to him-- A moderate loan--a single limb, Whereof might another helve be made, And his axe should elsewhere drive its trade.
Oh, the oaks and firs that then might stand, A pride and a joy throughout the land, For their ancientness and glorious charms!
The innocent Forest lent him arms; But bitter indeed was her regret; For the wretch, his axe new-helved and whet, Did nought but his benefactress spoil Of the finest trees that graced her soil; And ceaselessly was she made to groan, Doing penance for that fatal loan.
_Behold the world-stage and its actors, Where benefits hurt benefactors!
A weary theme, and full of pain; For where's the shade so cool and sweet, Protecting strangers from the heat, But might of such a wrong complain?
Alas! I vex myself in vain; Ingrat.i.tude, do what I will, Is sure to be the fas.h.i.+on still._
The Shepherd and the Lion
The Fable Aesop tells is nearly this: A Shepherd from his flock began to miss, And long'd to catch the stealer of his sheep.
Before a cavern, dark and deep, Where wolves retired by day to sleep, Which he suspected as the thieves, He set his trap among the leaves; And, ere he left the place, He thus invoked celestial grace: ”O king of all the powers divine, Against the rogue but grant me this delight, That this my trap may catch him in my sight, And I, from twenty calves of mine, Will make the fattest thine.”
But while the words were on his tongue, Forth came a Lion great and strong.