Part 6 (1/2)

”I beg your pardon,” said the bat; ”My kind is very far from that.

What! I a mouse! Who told you such a lie?

Why, ma'am, I am a bird; And, if you doubt my word, Just see the wings with which I fly.

Long live the mice that cleave the sky!”

These reasons had so fair a show, The weasel let the creature go.

By some strange fancy led, The same wise blunderhead, But two or three days later, Had chosen for her rest Another weasel's nest, This last, of birds a special hater.

New peril brought this step absurd: Without a moment's thought or puzzle, Dame weasel opened her peaked muzzle To eat th' intruder as a bird.

”Hold! do not wrong me,” cried the bat; ”I'm truly no such thing as that.

Your eyesight strange conclusions gathers.

What makes a bird, I pray? Its feathers.

I'm cousin of the mice and rats.

Great Jupiter confound the cats!”

The bat, by such adroit replying, Twice saved herself from dying.

_And many a human stranger_ _Thus turns his coat in danger;_ _And sings, as suits, where'er he goes,_ _”G.o.d save the king!”--or ”save his foes!”_

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE BAT AND THE TWO WEASELS.]

The Bird wounded by an Arrow.

A bird, with plumed arrow shot, In dying case deplored her lot: ”Alas!” she cried, ”the anguish of the thought!

This ruin partly by myself was brought!

Hard-hearted men! from us to borrow What wings to us the fatal arrow!

But mock us not, ye cruel race, For you must often take our place.”

_The work of half the human brothers_ _Is making arms against the others._

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE BIRD WOUNDED BY AN ARROW.]

The Lion and the Gnat.

”Go, paltry insect, nature's meanest brat!”

Thus said the royal lion to the gnat.

The gnat declared immediate war.

”Think you,” said he, ”your royal name To me worth caring for?

Think you I tremble at your power or fame?

The ox is bigger far than you; Yet him I drive, and all his crew.”

This said, as one that did no fear owe, Himself he blew the battle charge, Himself both trumpeter and hero.