Favourite Fables in Prose and Verse Part 2

A DIAMOND, of great beauty and l.u.s.tre, observing, not only many other gems of a lower cla.s.s ranged together with himself in the same cabinet, but a Loadstone likewise placed not far from him, began to question the latter how he came there, and what pretensions he had to be ranked among the precious stones; he, who appeared to be no better than a mere flint, a sorry, coa.r.s.e, rusty-looking pebble, without any the least s.h.i.+ning quality to advance him to such an honour; and concluded with desiring him to keep his distance, and pay a proper respect to his superiors.

"I find," said the Loadstone, "you judge by external appearances, and condemn without due examination; but I will not act so ungenerously by you. I am willing to allow you your due praise: you are a pretty bauble; I am mightily delighted to see you glitter and sparkle; I look upon you with pleasure and surprise; but I must be convinced you are of some sort of use before I acknowledge that you have any real merit, or treat you with that respect which you seem to demand. With regard to myself, I confess my deficiency in outward beauty; but I may venture to say, that I make amends by my intrinsic qualities. The great improvement of navigation is entirely owing to me. By me the distant parts of the world have been made known and are accessible to each other; the remotest nations are connected together, and all, as it were, united into one common society; by a mutual intercourse they relieve one another's wants, and all enjoy the several blessings peculiar to each. The world is indebted to me for its wealth, its splendour, and its power; and the arts and sciences are, in a great measure, obliged to me for their improvements, and their continual increase. All these blessings I am the origin of; for by my aid it is that man is enable to construct that valuable instrument, the Mariner's Compa.s.s."

MORAL.

Let dazzling stones in splendour glare; Utility's the gem for wear.

FABLE XII.

THE BEAR AND THE BEES.

A BEAR happened to be stung by a Bee; and the pain was so acute, that in the madness of revenge he ran into the garden, and overturned the hive. This outrage provoked their anger to such a degree that it brought the fury of the whole swarm upon him. They attacked him with such violence that his life was in danger, and it was with the utmost difficulty that he made his escape, wounded from head to tail. In this desperate condition, lamenting his misfortunes, and licking his sores, he could not forbear reflecting how much more advisable it had been to have patiently borne one injury, than by an unprofitable resentment to have provoked a thousand.

MORAL.

It is more prudent to acquiesce under an injury from a single person, then by an act of vengeance to bring upon us the resentment of a whole community.

FABLE XIII.

THE FROGS DESIRING A KING.

The Frogs, living an easy, free life everywhere among the lakes and ponds, a.s.sembled together one day, in a very tumultuous manner, and pet.i.tioned Jupiter to let them have a king, who might inspect their morals, and make them live a little honester.

Jupiter, being at that time in pretty good humour, was pleased to laugh heartily at their ridiculous request, and, throwing a little log down into the pool, cried, "There is a king for you!"

The sudden splash which this made by its fall into the water, at first terrified them so exceedingly that they were afraid to come near it. But, in a little time, seeing it lie still without moving, they ventured, by degrees, to approach it; and at last, finding there was no danger, they leaped upon it, and, in short, treated it as familiarly as they pleased. But, not contented with so insipid a king as this was, they sent their deputies to pet.i.tion again for another sort of one; for this they neither did nor could like. Upon that he sent them a Stork, who, without any ceremony, fell devouring and eating them up, one after another, as fast as he could. Then they applied themselves privately to Mercury, and got him to speak to Jupiter in their behalf, that he would be so good as to bless them again with another king, or restore them to their former state. "No," says he; "since it was their own choice, let the obstinate wretches suffer the punishment due to their folly."

MORAL.

This fable teaches that it is better to be content with our present condition, however bad we may think it, than, by ambitious change, to risk making it worse.

FABLE XIV.

THE FOX AND THE BOAR.

THE BOAR stood whetting his tusks against an old tree. The Fox, who happened to come by at the same time, asked him why he made those martial preparations of whetting his teeth, since there was no enemy near, that he could perceive. "That may be, Master Reynard," says the Boar, "but we should scour up our arms, while we have leisure, you know; for, in time of danger, we shall have something else to do."

MORAL.

It is well to have preparations made for all emergencies, that when we are placed in any difficult position we may be calm and self-possessed. These preparations are best made in times of leisure.

FABLE XV.

THE VINE AND THE GOAT.

A GOAT having taken shelter from the heat of the sun under the broad leaves of a shady-spreading vine, began to crop and eat them; by this means, the branches being put into a rustling motion, he drew the eyes of some hunters who were pa.s.sing that way, and, seeing the vine stir, thought some wild beast had taken covert there; they shot their arrows at a venture, and killed the Goat, who, before he expired, uttered his dying words to this purpose: "Ah! I suffer justly for my ingrat.i.tude, who could not forbear doing an injury to the vine that had so kindly afforded me shelter."

MORAL.

Ingrat.i.tude is a great crime, and from which we should seek earnestly to be preserved. He that is capable of injuring his benefactor, what would he scruple to do towards another?

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE VINE AND THE GOAT.]

FABLE XVI.

THE DISCONTENTED HORSE.

As JUPITER once was receiving pet.i.tions From birds and from beasts of all ranks and conditions; With an eye full of fire, and mane quite erect, Which, I'm sorry to say, shewed but little respect, The Horse went as near as he dared to the throne, And thus made his donkey-like sentiments known:

"For beauty of symmetry, fleetness, and force, It is said that all animals yield to the Horse; While my spirit I feel, and my figure I view In the brook, I'm inclined to believe it is true; But still, mighty Jupiter, still, by your aid, In my form might some further improvements be made.

To run is my duty, and swifter and stronger I surely should go, were my legs to be longer: And as man always places a seat on my back, I should have been made with a saddle or sack; It had saved _him_ much trouble, on journies departing, And _I_ had been constantly ready for starting."

Great Jupiter smiled (for he laughed at the brute, As he saw more of folly than vice in his suit), And striking the earth with omnipotent force, A Camel rose up near the terrified Horse: He trembled--he started--his mane shook with fright, And he staggered half round, as preparing for flight.

"Behold!" exclaimed Jove, "there an animal stands With both your improvements at once to your hands: His legs are much longer; the hump on his back Well answers the purpose of saddle or sack: Of your shapes, tell me, which is more finished and trim?

Speak out, silly Horse, would you wish to be him?"

The Horse looked abashed, and had nothing to say And Jove, with reproaches, thus sent him away: "Begone, till you gratefully feel and express Your thanks for the blessings and gifts you possess.

The Camel, though plain, is mild, useful, and good; You are handsome, but proud, discontented and rude."

FABLE XVII.