Part 13 (1/2)

Not less redundant is the tree, So sweet a thing is luxury.

The grain within due bounds to keep, Their Maker licenses the sheep The leaves excessive to retrench.

In troops they spread across the plain, And, nibbling down the hapless grain, Contrive to spoil it, root and branch.

So, then, with licence from on high, The wolves are sent on sheep to prey; The whole the greedy gluttons slay; Or, if they don't, they try.

Next, men are sent on wolves to take The vengeance now condign: In turn the same abuse they make Of this behest divine.

Of animals, the human kind Are to excess the most inclined.

On low and high we make the charge,-- Indeed, upon the race at large.

There liveth not the soul select That sinneth not in this respect.

Of ”Nought too much,” the fact is, All preach the truth,--none practise.

[Ill.u.s.tration: NOTHING TOO MUCH.]

The Cat and the Fox.

The cat and fox, when saints were all the rage Together went upon pilgrimage.

Our pilgrims, as a thing of course, Disputed till their throats were hoa.r.s.e.

Then, dropping to a lower tone, They talk'd of this, and talk'd of that, Till Renard whisper'd to the cat, ”You think yourself a knowing one: How many cunning tricks have you?

For I've a hundred, old and new, All ready in my haversack.”

The cat replied, ”I do not lack, Though with but one provided; And, truth to honour, for that matter, I hold it than a thousand better.”

In fresh dispute they sided; And loudly were they at it, when Approach'd a mob of dogs and men.

”Now,” said the cat, ”your tricks ransack, And put your cunning brains to rack, One life to save; I'll show you mine-- A trick, you see, for saving nine.”

With that, she climb'd a lofty pine.

The fox his hundred ruses tried, And yet no safety found.

A hundred times he falsified The nose of every hound.-- Was here, and there, and everywhere, Above, and under ground; But yet to stop he did not dare, Pent in a hole, it was no joke, To meet the terriers or the smoke.

So, leaping into upper air, He met two dogs, that choked him there.

_Expedients may be too many,_ _Consuming time to choose and try._ _On one, but that as good as any,_ _'Tis best in danger to rely._

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE CAT AND THE FOX.]

The Monkey and the Cat.

Sly Bertrand and Ratto in company sat, (The one was a monkey, the other a cat,) Co-servants and lodgers: More mischievous codgers Ne'er mess'd from a platter, since platters were flat.

Was anything wrong in the house or about it, The neighbours were blameless,--no mortal could doubt it; For Bertrand was thievish, and Ratto so nice, More attentive to cheese than he was to the mice.

One day the two plunderers sat by the fire, Where chestnuts were roasting, with looks of desire.

To steal them would be a right n.o.ble affair.

A double inducement our heroes drew there-- 'Twould benefit them, could they swallow their fill, And then 'twould occasion to somebody ill.

Said Bertrand to Ratto, ”My brother, to-day Exhibit your powers in a masterly way, And take me these chestnuts, I pray.

Which were I but otherwise fitted (As I am ingeniously witted) For pulling things out of the flame, Would stand but a pitiful game.”