Part 23 (1/2)

XXIX. THE FROGS AND BULLS.

Men of low life are in distress When great ones enmity profess.

There was a Bull-fight in the fen, A Frog cried out in trouble then, ”Oh, what perdition on our race!”

”How,” says another, ”can the case Be quite so desp'rate as you've said?

For they're contending who is head, And lead a life from us disjoin'd, Of sep'rate station, diverse kind.”-- ”But he, who worsted shall retire, Will come into this lowland mire, And with his hoof dash out our brains, Wherefore their rage to us pertains.”

x.x.x. THE KITE AND THE DOVES.

He that would have the wicked reign, Instead of help will find his bane.

The Doves had oft escaped the Kite, By their celerity of flight; The ruffian then to coz'nage stoop'd, And thus the tim'rous race he duped: ”Why do you lead a life of fear, Rather than my proposals hear?

Elect me for your king, and I Will all your race indemnify.”

They foolishly the Kite believed, Who having now the pow'r received, Began upon the Doves to prey, And exercise tyrannic sway.

”Justly,” says one who yet remain'd, ”We die the death ourselves ordain'd.”

BOOK II.

PROLOGUE.

The way of writing Esop chose, Sound doctrine by example shows; For nothing by these tales is meant, So much as that the bad repent; And by the pattern that is set, Due diligence itself should whet.

Wherefore, whatever arch conceit You in our narratives shall meet (If with the critic's ear it take, And for some special purpose make), Aspires by real use to fame, Rather than from an author's name.

In fact, with all the care I can, I shall abide by Esop's plan: But if at times I intersperse My own materials in the verse, That sweet variety may please The fancy, and attention ease; Receive it in a friendly way; Which grace I purpose to repay By this consciousness of my song; Whose praises, lest they be too long, Attend, why you should stint the sneak, But give the modest, ere they seek.

FABLE I. THE JUDICIOUS LION.

A Lion on the carca.s.s stood Of a young heifer in the wood; A robber that was pa.s.sing there, Came up, and ask'd him for a share.

”A share,” says he, ”you should receive, But that you seldom ask our leave For things so handily removed.”

At which the ruffian was reproved.

It happen'd that the selfsame day A modest pilgrim came that way, And when he saw the Lion, fled: Says he, ”There is no cause of dread, In gentle tone--take you the chine, Which to your merit I a.s.sign.”-- Then having parted what he slew, To favour his approach withdrew.

A great example, worthy praise, But not much copied now-a-days!

For churls have coffers that o'erflow, And sheepish worth is poor and low.

II. THE BALD-PATE DUPE.

Fondling or fondled--any how-- (Examples of all times allow) That men by women must be fleeced.

A dame, whose years were well increased, But skill'd t' affect a youthful mien, Was a staid husband's empress queen; Who yet sequester'd half his heart For a young damsel, brisk and smart.

They, while each wanted to attach Themselves to him, and seem his match, Began to tamper with his hair.

He, pleased with their officious care, Was on a sudden made a coot; For the young strumpet, branch and root, Stripp'd of the h.o.a.ry hairs his crown, E'en as th' old cat grubb'd up the brown.

III. THE MAN AND THE DOG.

Torn by a Cur, a man was led To throw the snappish thief some bread Dipt in the blood, which, he was told, Had been a remedy of old. Then Esop thus:-- ”Forbear to show A pack of dogs the thing you do, Lest they should soon devour us quite, When thus rewarded as they bite.”

One wicked miscreant's success Makes many more the trade profess.

IV. THE EAGLE, THE CAT, AND THE SOW.