The Fables of Phaedrus Part 22

XV. THE SAPIENT a.s.s.

In all the changes of a state, The poor are the most fortunate, Who, save the name of him they call Their king, can find no odds at all.

The truth of this you now may read-- A fearful old man in a mead, While leading of his a.s.s about, Was startled at the sudden shout Of enemies approaching nigh.

He then advised the a.s.s to fly, "Lest we be taken in the place:"

But loth at all to mend his pace, "Pray, will the conqueror," quoth Jack, "With double panniers load my back?"

"No," says the man. "If that's the thing,"

Cries he, "I care not who is king."

XVI. THE SHEEP, THE STAG, AND THE WOLF.

When one rogue would another get For surety in a case of debt, 'Tis not the thing t' accept the terms, But dread th' event--the tale affirms.

A Stag approach'd the Sheep, to treat For one good bushel of her wheat.

"The honest Wolf will give his bond."

At which, beginning to despond, "The Wolf (cries she) 's a vagrant bite.

And you are quickly out of sight; Where shall I find or him or you Upon the day the debt is due?"

XVII. THE SHEEP, THE DOG, AND THE WOLF.

Liars are liable to rue The mischief they're so p.r.o.ne to do.

The Sheep a Dog unjustly dunn'd One loaf directly to refund, Which he the Dog to the said Sheep Had given in confidence to keep.

The Wolf was summoned, and he swore It was not one, but ten or more.

The Sheep was therefore cast at law To pay for things she never saw.

But, lo! ere many days ensued, Dead in a ditch the Wolf she view'd: "This, this," she cried, "is Heaven's decree Of justice on a wretch like thee."

XIX. THE b.i.t.c.h AND HER PUPPIES.

Bad men have speeches smooth and fair, Of which, that we should be aware, And such designing villains thwart, The underwritten lines exhort.

A b.i.t.c.h besought one of her kin For room to put her Puppies in: She, loth to say her neighbour nay, Directly lent both hole and hay.

But asking to be repossess'd, For longer time the former press'd, Until her Puppies gather'd strength, Which second lease expired at length; And when, abused at such a rate, The lender grew importunate, "The place," quoth she, "I will resign When you're a match for me and mine."

XX. THE HUNGRY DOGS.

A stupid plan that fools project, Not only will not take effect, But proves destructive in the end To those that bungle and pretend.

Some hungry Dogs beheld an hide Deep sunk beneath the crystal tide, Which, that they might extract for food, They strove to drink up all the flood; But bursten in the desp'rate deed, They perish'd, ere they could succeed.

XXI. THE OLD LION.

Whoever, to his honor's cost, His pristine dignity has lost, Is the fool's jest and coward's scorn, When once deserted and forlorn.

With years enfeebled and decay'd, A Lion gasping hard was laid: Then came, with furious tusk, a boar, To vindicate his wrongs of yore: The bull was next in hostile spite, With goring horn his foe to smite: At length the a.s.s himself, secure That now impunity was sure, His blow too insolently deals, And kicks his forehead with his heels.

Then thus the Lion, as he died: "'Twas hard to bear the brave," he cried; "But to be trampled on by thee Is Nature's last indignity; And thou, O despicable thing, Giv'st death at least a double sting."

XXII. THE MAN AND THE WEASEL.

A Weasel, by a person caught, And willing to get off, besought The man to spare. "Be not severe On him that keeps your pantry clear Of those intolerable mice."

"This were," says he, "a work of price, If done entirely for my sake, And good had been the plea you make: But since, with all these pains and care, You seize yourself the dainty fare On which those vermin used to fall, And then devour the mice and all, Urge not a benefit in vain."

This said, the miscreant was slain.

The satire here those chaps will own, Who, useful to themselves alone, And bustling for a private end, Would boast the merit of a friend.

XXIII. THE FAITHFUL HOUSE-DOG.

A Man that's gen'rous all at once May dupe a novice or a dunce; But to no purpose are the snares He for the knowing ones prepares.

When late at night a felon tried To bribe a Dog with food, he cried, "What ho! do you attempt to stop The mouth of him that guards the shop?

You 're mightily mistaken, sir, For this strange kindness is a spur, To make me double all my din, Lest such a scoundrel should come in."

XXIV. THE PROUD FROG.

When poor men to expenses run, And ape their betters, they're undone.

An Ox the Frog a-grazing view'd, And envying his magnitude, She puffs her wrinkled skin, and tries To vie with his enormous size: Then asks her young to own at least That she was bigger than the beast.

They answer, No. With might and main She swells and strains, and swells again.

"Now for it, who has got the day?"

The Ox is larger still, they say.

At length, with more and more ado, She raged and puffed, and burst in two.

XXV. THE DOG AND THE CROCODILE.

Who give bad precepts to the wise, And cautious men with guile advise, Not only lose their toil and time, But slip into sarcastic rhyme.

The dogs that are about the Nile, Through terror of the Crocodile, Are therefore said to drink and run.

It happen'd on a day, that one, As scamp'ring by the river side, Was by the Crocodile espied: "Sir, at your leisure drink, nor fear The least design or treach'ry here."

"That," says the Dog, "ma'm, would I do With all my heart, and thank you too, But as you can on dog's flesh dine, You shall not taste a bit of mine."

XXVI. THE FOX AND THE STORK.

One should do injury to none; But he that has th' a.s.sault begun, Ought, says the fabulist, to find The dread of being served in kind, A Fox, to sup within his cave The Stork an invitation gave, Where, in a shallow dish, was pour'd Some broth, which he himself devour'd; While the poor hungry Stork was fain Inevitably to abstain.

The Stork, in turn, the Fox invites, And brings her liver and her lights In a tall flagon, finely minced, And thrusting in her beak, convinced The Fox that he in grief must fast, While she enjoy'd the rich repast.

Then, as in vain he lick'd the neck, The Stork was heard her guest to check, "That every one the fruits should bear Of their example, is but fair."

XXVII. THE DOG, TREASURE, AND VULTURE.

A Dog, while scratching up the ground, 'Mongst human bones a treasure found; But as his sacrilege was great, To covet riches was his fate, And punishment of his offence; He therefore never stirr'd from thence, But both in hunger and the cold, With anxious care he watch'd the gold, Till wholly negligent of food, A ling'ring death at length ensued.

Upon his corse a Vulture stood, And thus descanted:-- "It is good, O Dog, that there thou liest bereaved Who in the highway wast conceived, And on a scurvy dunghill bred, Hadst royal riches in thy head."

XXVIII. THE FOX AND EAGLE.

Howe'er exalted in your sphere, There's something from the mean to fear; For, if their property you wrong, The poor's revenge is quick and strong.

When on a time an Eagle stole The cubs from out a Fox's hole, And bore them to her young away, That they might feast upon the prey, The dam pursues the winged thief, And deprecates so great a grief; But safe upon the lofty tree, The Eagle scorn'd the Fox's plea.

With that the Fox perceived at hand An altar, whence she s.n.a.t.c.h'd a brand, And compa.s.sing with flames the wood, Put her in terror for her brood.

She therefore, lest her house should burn, Submissive did the cubs return.