The Fables of Phaedrus Part 25

I starve, though stronger of the two."

"It will be just as well with you,"

The Dog quite cool and frank replied, "If with my master you'll abide."

"For what?" "Why merely to attend, And from night thieves the door defend."

"I gladly will accept the post, What! shall I bear with snow and frost And all this rough inclement plight, Rather than have a home at night, And feed on plenty at my ease?"

"Come, then, with me" --the Wolf agrees.

But as they went the mark he found, Where the Dog's collar had been bound: "What's this, my friend?" "Why, nothing."

"Nay, Be more explicit, sir, I pray."

"I'm somewhat fierce and apt to bite, Therefore they hold me pretty tight, That in the day-time I may sleep, And night by night my vigils keep.

At evening tide they let me out, And then I freely walk about: Bread comes without a care of mine.

I from my master's table dine; The servants throw me many a sc.r.a.p, With choice of pot-liquor to lap; So, I've my bellyful, you find."

"But can you go where you've a mind?"

"Not always, to be flat and plain."

"Then, Dog, enjoy your post again, For to remain this servile thing, Old Isgrim would not be a king."

VII. THE BROTHER AND SISTER.

Warn'd by our council, oft beware, And look into yourself with care.

There was a certain father had A homely girl and comely lad.

These being at their childish play Within their mother's room one day, A looking-gla.s.s was in the chair, And they beheld their faces there.

The boy grows prouder as he looks; The girl is in a rage, nor brooks Her boasting brother's jests and sneers, Affronted at each word she hears: Then to her father down she flies, And urges all she can devise Against the boy, who could presume To meddle in a lady's room.

At which, embracing each in turn, With most affectionate concern, "My dears," he says, "ye may not pa.s.s A day without this useful gla.s.s; You, lest you spoil a pretty face, By doing things to your disgrace; You, by good conduct to correct Your form, and beautify defect."

VIII. A SAYING OF SOCRATES.

Though common be the name of friend, Few can to faithfulness pretend, That Socrates (whose cruel case, I'd freely for his fame embrace, And living any envy bear To leave my character so fair) Was building of a little cot, When some one, standing on the spot, Ask'd, as the folks are apt to do, "How comes so great a man as you Content with such a little hole?"-- "I wish," says he, "with all my soul That this same little house I build Was with true friends completely fill'd."

IX. OF DOUBT AND CREDULITY.

'Tis frequently of bad event To give or to withhold a.s.sent.

Two cases will th' affair explain-- The good Hippolytus was slain; In that his stepdame credit found, And Troy was levell'd with the ground; Because Ca.s.sandra's prescious care Sought, but obtain'd no credence there.

The facts should then be very strong, Lest the weak judge determine wrong: But that I may not make too free With fabulous antiquity, I now a curious tale shall tell, Which I myself remember well.

An honest man, that loved his wife, Was introducing into life A son upon the man's estate.

One day a servant (whom, of late, He with his freedom had endu'd) Took him aside, and being shrewd, Supposed that he might be his heir When he'd divulged the whole affair.

Much did he lie against the youth, But more against the matron's truth: And hinted that, which worst of all Was sure a lover's heart to gall, The visits of a l.u.s.ty rake, And honour of his house at stake.

He at this scandal taking heat, Pretends a journey to his seat; But stopp'd at hand, while it was light, Where, on a sudden, and by night, He to his wife's apartment sped, Where she had put the lad to bed, As watchful of his youthful bloom.

While now they're running to the room, And seek a light in haste, the sire, No longer stifling of his ire, Flies to the couch, where grouping round, A head, but newly shaved, he found; Then, as alone, he vengeance breath'd, The sword within his bosom sheath'd-- The candle ent'ring, when he spied The bleeding youth, and by his side The spotless dame, who being fast Asleep, knew nothing that had pa.s.s'd, Instant in utmost grief involved, He vengeance for himself resolved; And on that very weapon flew, Which his too cred'lous fury drew.

Th' accusers take the woman straight, And drag to the centumvirate; Th' ill-natured world directly built A strong suspicion of her guilts, As she th' estate was to enjoy-- The lawyers all their skill employ; And a great spirit those exert Who most her innocence a.s.sert.

The judges then to Caesar pray'd That he would lend his special aid; Who, as they acted upon oath, Declared themselves extremely loth To close this intricate affair-- He, taking then himself the chair, The clouds of calumny displaced.

And Truth up to her fountain traced.

"Let the freedman to vengeance go, The cause of all this scene of woe: For the poor widow, thus undone, Deprived of husband and of son, To pity has a greater plea Than condemnation, I decree-- But if the man, with caution due, Had rather blamed than listen'd to The vile accuser, and his lie Had strictly search'd with Reason's eye, This desp'rate guilt he had not known, Nor branch and root his house o'erthrown."

Nor wholly scorn, nor yet attend Too much at what the tatlers vend, Because there's many a sad neglect.

Where you have little to suspect; And treach'rous persons will attaint Men, against whom there's no complaint.

Hence simple folks too may be taught How to form judgments as they ought, And not see with another's gla.s.s; For things are come to such a pa.s.s, That love and hate work diff'rent ways, As int'rest or ambition sways.

Them you may know, in them confide, Whom by experience you have tried.

Thus have I made a long amends For that brief style which some offends.

XI. THE c.o.c.k AND THE PEARL.

A c.o.c.k, while scratching all around, A Pearl upon the dunghill found: "O splendid thing in foul disgrace, Had there been any in the place That saw and knew thy worth when sold, Ere this thou hadst been set in gold.

But I, who rather would have got A corn of barley, heed thee not; No service can there render'd be From me to you, and you to me."

I write this tale to them alone To whom in vain my pearls are thrown.

XII. THE BEES AND THE DRONES.

Up in a lofty oak the Bees Had made their honey-combs: but these The Drones a.s.serted they had wrought.

Then to the bar the cause was brought Before the wasp, a learned chief, Who well might argue either brief, As of a middle nature made.

He therefore to both parties said: "You're not dissimilar in size, And each with each your color vies, That there's a doubt concerning both: But, lest I err, upon my oath, Hives for yourselves directly choose, And in the wax the work infuse, That, from the flavor and the form, We may point out the genuine swarm."

The Drones refuse, the Bees agree-- Then thus did Justice Wasp decree: "Who can, and who cannot, is plain, So take, ye Bees, your combs again."

This narrative had been suppress'd Had not the Drones refused the test.

XIII. ESOP PLAYING.

As Esop was with boys at play, And had his nuts as well as they, A grave Athenian, pa.s.sing by, Cast on the sage a scornful eye, As on a dotard quite bereaved: Which, when the moralist perceived, (Rather himself a wit profess'd Than the poor subject of a jest) Into the public way he flung A bow that he had just unstrung: "There solve, thou conjurer," he cries, "The problem, that before thee lies."

The people throng; he racks his brain, Nor can the thing enjoin'd explain.

At last he gives it up--the seer Thus then in triumph made it clear: "As the tough bow exerts its spring, A constant tension breaks the string; But if 'tis let at seasons loose, You may depend upon its use."

Thus recreative sports and play Are good upon a holiday, And with more spirit they'll pursue The studies which they shall renew.

XIV. THE DOG AND THE LAMB.

A Dog bespoke a sucking Lamb, That used a she-goat as her dam, "You little fool, why, how you baa!

This goat is not your own mamma:"

Then pointed to a distant mead, Where several sheep were put to feed.

"I ask not," says the Lamb, "for her Who had me first at Nature's spur, And bore me for a time about, Then, like a fardel, threw me out; But her that is content to bilk Her own dear kids, to give me milk."

"Yet she that yean'd you sure," says Tray, "Should be preferr'd" --"I tell thee nay-- Whence could she know that what she hid Was black or white?--but grant she did-- I being thus a male begot 'Twas no great favor, since my lot Was hour by hour, throughout my life, To dread the butcher and his knife.

Why should I therefore give my voice For her who had no pow'r or choice In my production, and not cleave To her so ready to relieve, When she beheld me left alone, And has such sweet indulgence shown?"

Kind deeds parental love proclaim, Not mere necessity and name.

XV. THE OWL AND THE GRa.s.sHOPPER.

Those who will not the forms obey To be obliging in their way, Must often punishment abide For their ill-nature, and their pride.

A Gra.s.shopper, in rank ill-will, Was very loud and very shrill Against a sapient Owl's repose, Who was compelled by day to doze Within a hollow oak's retreat, As wont by night to quest for meat-- She is desired to hold her peace.

But at the word her cries increase; Again requested to abate Her noise, she's more importunate.

The Owl perceiving no redress, And that her words were less and less Accounted of, no longer pray'd, But thus an artifice essay'd: "Since 'tis impossible to nod, While harping like the Delphian G.o.d, You charm our ears, stead of a nap, A batch of nectar will I tap, Which lately from Minerva came; Now if you do not scorn the same, Together let us b.u.mpers ply."

The Gra.s.shopper, extremely dry, And, finding she had hit the key That gain'd applause, approach'd with glee; At which the Owl upon her flew, And quick the trembling vixen slew.

Thus by her death she was adjudged To give what in her life she grudged.

XVI. THE TREES PROTECTED.

The G.o.ds took certain trees (th' affair Was some time since) into their care.

The oak was best approved by Jove, The myrtle by the queen of love; The G.o.d of music and the day Vouchsafed to patronise the bay; The pine Cybele chanced to please, And the tall poplar Hercules.