FABLE LXXII.

Friendships are single: who dependOn many rarely find a friend.

ACock, being perched among the branches of a lofty tree, crowed aloud, so that the shrillness of his voice echoed through the wood and invited a Fox to the place, who was prowling in that neighbourhood in quest of his prey. But Reynard, finding the Cock was inaccessible by reason of the height of his situation, had recourse to stratagem in order to decoy him down. So, approaching the tree, "Cousin," says he, "I am heartily glad to see you; but at the same time I cannot forbear expressing my uneasiness at the inconvenience of the place, which will not let me pay my respects to you in a handsomer manner; though I suppose you will come down presently, and thus the difficulty will be easily removed."

"Indeed, cousin," says the Cock, "to tell you the truth, I do not think it safe to venture upon the ground; for though I am convinced how much you are my friend, yet I may have the misfortune to fall into the clutches of some other beasts, and what will become of me then?" "Oh, dear!" says Reynard, "is it possible that you can be so ignorant,as not to know of the peace which has been lately proclaimed between all kinds of birds and beasts; and that we are for the future to forbear hostilities on all sides, and to live in the utmost love and harmony, and this, under the penalty of suffering the severest punishment that can be inflicted?" All this while the Cock seemed to give little attention to what was said, but stretched out his neck, as if he saw something at a distance.

"Cousin," says the Fox, "what is it that you look at so earnestly?" "Why," says the Cock, "I think I see a pack of hounds yonder, a little way off." "Oh, then," says the Fox, "your humble servant, I must begone." "Nay, pray cousin, do not go," says the Cock, "I am just coming down; surely you are not afraid of Dogs in these peaceable times?" "No, no," says he, "but ten to one whether they have heard of the proclamation yet."

MORAL.

When rogues are met in their own strain, they are generally worsted. It is interesting to see the snares of the wicked defeated by the discreet management of the innocent. "Answer a fool according to his folly," is an old maxim.

ALion, faint with heat and weary with hunting, was lying down to take his repose under the spreading boughs of a thick shady oak. It happened that while he slept, a company of scrambling mice ran over his back, and waked him; upon which, starting up, he clapped his paw upon one of them, and was just going to put it to death, when the little supplicant implored his mercy in a very moving manner, begging him not to stain his noble character with the blood of so despicable and small a beast.

The Lion, considering the matter, thought proper to do as he was desired, and immediately released his little trembling prisoner.

Not long after, while traversing the forest in pursuit of his prey, he chanced to run into the toils of the hunters, from whence, not being able to disengage himself, he set up a most hideous and loud roar.

The Mouse, hearing a voice, and knowing it to be the Lion's, immediately repaired to the place, and bid him fear nothing, for that he was his friend. Then straight he fell towork, and with his sharp little teeth gnawing asunder the knots and fastenings of the toils, set the royal brute at liberty.

THE LION AND THE MOUSE.THE LION AND THE MOUSE.

MORAL.

There is none so little, but that even the greatest may at some time or other stand in need of his assistance.

ATrumpeter, being taken prisoner in a battle, begged hard for quarter, declaring his innocence, and protesting that he neither had nor could kill any man, bearing no arms but only a trumpet, which he was obliged to sound at the word of command. "For that reason," replied his enemies, "we are determined not to spare you; for though you yourself never fight, yet with that wicked instrument of yours, you blow up animosity between other people, and so become the occasion of much bloodshed."

MORAL.

The hand may rest quiet by the side, and yet the tongue be the means of doing more injury than a thousand hands.

Apertyoung Mouse, but just arrivedFrom Athens, where some time he'd lived;And daily to the portico,To pick up learning, used to go;Vain of the wisdom he had stored,And of the books he had devoured;Puffed up with pride and self-conceit,And proud to show his little wit,Thus to an Elephant, one day,He took it in his head to say:—"Nay, not so pompous in your gait,Because Dame Nature made you great;I tell you, sir, your mighty sizeIs of no value in my eyes;—Your magnitude, I have a notion,Is quite unfit for locomotion;When journeying far, you often proveHow sluggishly your feet can move.Now, look at me: I'm made to fly;Behold, with what rapidityI skip about from place to place,And still unwearied with the race;But you—how lazily you creep,And stop to breathe at every step!Whenever I your bulk survey,I pity—" What he meant to say,Or with what kind of perorationHe'd have concluded his oration,I cannot tell; for, all at once,There pounced upon the learned dunceAn ambushed Cat; who, very soon,Experimentally made known,That between Mice and ElephantsThere is a mighty difference.

"Nay, not so pompous in your gait,Because Dame Nature made you great;I tell you, sir, your mighty sizeIs of no value in my eyes;—Your magnitude, I have a notion,Is quite unfit for locomotion;When journeying far, you often proveHow sluggishly your feet can move.Now, look at me: I'm made to fly;Behold, with what rapidityI skip about from place to place,And still unwearied with the race;But you—how lazily you creep,And stop to breathe at every step!Whenever I your bulk survey,I pity—" What he meant to say,Or with what kind of perorationHe'd have concluded his oration,I cannot tell; for, all at once,There pounced upon the learned dunceAn ambushed Cat; who, very soon,Experimentally made known,That between Mice and ElephantsThere is a mighty difference.

MORAL.

When fools pretend to wit and sense,And wish to shine at your expense,Defy them to the proof, and youWill make them their own folly show.

AcertainHusbandman, lying at the point of death, and being desirous his sons should pursue that innocent, entertaining course of agriculture in which he himself had been engaged all his life, made use of this expedient to induce them to it. He called them to his bed-side and spoke to this effect: "All the patrimony I have to bequeath you, Sons, is my farm and my vineyard, of which I make you joint heirs. But I charge you not to let it go out of your own occupation; for if I have any treasure besides, it lies buried somewhere in the ground, within a foot of the surface."

This made the Sons conclude that he talked of money which he had hid there; so, after their father's death, with unwearied diligence and application, they carefully dug up every inch, both of the farm and vineyard; from which it came to pass that, though they missed the treasure which they expected, the ground, by being so well stirred and loosened, produced so plentiful a crop of all that was sowed in it as proved a real, and no inconsiderable treasure.

MORAL.

Labour and industry, well applied, seldom fail of finding a rich treasure. And if these do not give us exactly the wealth we are looking for, they will certainly give us health and cheerfulness, with a tranquil mind, and, without these, all the gold of Peru would lie in our coffers useless.

AcertainKnight growing old, his hair fell off, and he became bald; to hide which imperfection he wore a periwig. But as he was riding out with some others a-hunting, a sudden gust of wind blew off the periwig, and exposed his bald pate.

The company could not forbear laughing at the accident; and he himself laughed as loud as anybody, saying, "How was it to be expected that I should keep strange hair on my head, when my own would not stay there."

MORAL.

If, by any word or action, we happen to raise the laughter of those about us, we cannot stifle it better than, by a brisk presence of mind, to join in the mirth of the company, and, if possible, anticipate the jests they are ready to make on us.

ADogwas lying upon a manger full of hay. An Ox, being hungry, came near, and wanted to eat of the hay; but the envious, ill-natured cur, getting up and snarling at him, would not suffer him to touch it. Upon which the Ox, in the bitterness of his heart, said, "What a selfish wretch thou art, for thou canst neither eat hay thyself, nor suffer others to do so."

MORAL.

Selfishness is a most contemptible thing; but that degree of it which withholds from others what we can make no possible use of ourselves, is hateful in the extreme.

THE DOG IN THE MANGER.THE DOG IN THE MANGER.

Apoor, feeble old Man, who had crawled out into a neighbouring wood to gather a few sticks, had made up his bundle,and, laying it over his shoulders, was trudging homeward with it; but what with age, and the length of the way, and the weight of his burden, he grew so faint and weak that he sunk under it, and, as he sat on the ground, called upon Death to come and ease him of his troubles. Death no sooner heard him than he came and demanded of him what he wanted. The poor old creature, who little thought Death had been so near, and frightened almost out of his senses with his terrible aspect, answered him, trembling, That, having by chance let his bundle of sticks fall, and being too infirm to get it up himself, he had made bold to call upon him to help him; that, indeed, this was all he wanted at present, and that he hoped his worship was not offended with him for the liberty he had taken in so doing.

MORAL.

Men lightly speak of Death when they think he is far away; but let him appear near, and the very sense of his approach almost drives the life away. Men then resume the burden of cares which they had thrown down as insupportable, being content to bear the ills they have than fly to others that they know not of.

As an old Hen led forth her train,And seemed to peck, to show the grain;She raked the chaff, she scratched the ground,And gleaned the spacious yard around.A giddy chick, to try her wings,On the well's narrow margin springs,And prone she drops. The mother's breastAll day with sorrow was possessed.A Cock she met—her son, she knew;And in her heart affection grew."My son," says she, "I grant, your yearsHave reached beyond a mother's cares;I see you vigorous, strong, and bold;I hear, with joy, your triumphs told.'Tis not from Cocks thy fate I dread;But let thy ever-wary treadAvoid yon well; that fatal placeIs sure perdition to our race.Print this, my counsel, on thy breast;To the just gods I leave the rest."He thanked her care; yet, day by day,His bosom burned to disobey;And every time the well he saw,Scorned, in his heart, the foolish law;Near and more near each day he drew,And longed to try the dangerous view."Why was this idle charge?" he cries;"Let courage female fears despise!Or did she doubt my heart was brave,And, therefore, this injunction gave?Or does her harvest store the place,A treasure for her younger race?And would she thus my search prevent?—I stand resolved, and dare th' event."Thus said, he mounts the margin's round,And pries into the depth profound.He stretched his neck; and, from below,With stretching neck advanced a foe:With wrath his ruffled plumes he tears;The foe with ruffled plumes appears:Threat answered threat, his fury grew;Headlong to meet the war he flew;But when the watery death he found,He thus lamented as he drowned:"I ne'er had been in this condition,Had I obeyed the prohibition."

A Cock she met—her son, she knew;And in her heart affection grew.

"My son," says she, "I grant, your yearsHave reached beyond a mother's cares;I see you vigorous, strong, and bold;I hear, with joy, your triumphs told.'Tis not from Cocks thy fate I dread;But let thy ever-wary treadAvoid yon well; that fatal placeIs sure perdition to our race.Print this, my counsel, on thy breast;To the just gods I leave the rest."

He thanked her care; yet, day by day,His bosom burned to disobey;And every time the well he saw,Scorned, in his heart, the foolish law;Near and more near each day he drew,And longed to try the dangerous view.

"Why was this idle charge?" he cries;"Let courage female fears despise!Or did she doubt my heart was brave,And, therefore, this injunction gave?Or does her harvest store the place,A treasure for her younger race?And would she thus my search prevent?—I stand resolved, and dare th' event."

Thus said, he mounts the margin's round,And pries into the depth profound.He stretched his neck; and, from below,With stretching neck advanced a foe:With wrath his ruffled plumes he tears;The foe with ruffled plumes appears:Threat answered threat, his fury grew;Headlong to meet the war he flew;But when the watery death he found,He thus lamented as he drowned:"I ne'er had been in this condition,Had I obeyed the prohibition."

MORAL.

Obey your parents, or 'twill be your fate,To feel repentance when it comes too late.

AManwas felling a tree on the bank of a river, and by chance let his hatchet slip out of his hand, which dropped into the water, and immediately sunk to the bottom. Being, therefore, in great distress from the loss of his tool, he sat down and bemoaned himself most lamentably.

Upon this, Mercury appeared to him, and being informed of the cause of his complaint, dived to the bottom of the river, and, coming up again, showed the man a golden hatchet, demanding if that were his. He denied that it was;upon which Mercury dived a second time, and brought up a silver one. The Man refused it, alleging likewise that this was not his. He dived a third time, and fetched up the individual hatchet the man had lost; upon sight of which the poor fellow was overjoyed, and took it with all humility and thankfulness. Mercury was so pleased with the fellow's honesty, that he gave him the other two into the bargain, as a reward for his just dealing.

The man then went to his companions, and, giving them an account of what had happened, one of them went presently to the river side, and let his hatchet fall designedly into the stream. Then, sitting down upon the bank, he fell a-weeping and lamenting, as if he had been really and sorely afflicted. Mercury appeared as before, and, diving, brought him up a golden hatchet, asking if that was the one he had lost. Transported at the precious metal, he answered "Yes," and went to snatch it greedily. But the god, detesting his abominable impudence, not only refused to give him that, but would not so much as let him have his own hatchet again.

MORAL.

Honesty is the best policy; it has made many a man's fortune, being blessed by God, and highly valued by man.

TheGoat, going abroad to feed, shut up her young kid at home, charging him to bolt the door fast, and open it to nobody, till she herself should return. The Wolf, who lay lurking just by, heard this charge given, and soon after came and knocked at the door, counterfeiting the voice of the Goat, and desiring to be admitted. The Kid, looking out of the window and discovering the cheat, bid him go about his business; for however he might imitate a Goat's voice, yet he appeared too much like a Wolf to be trusted.

MORAL.

We cannot use too much caution in avoiding those things which those who have more experience than we have warned us against.

THE WOLF AND THE GOAT.THE WOLF AND THE GOAT.

An Old Man had many Sons, who were often falling out with one another. When the father had exerted his authority,and used other means in order to reconcile them, and all to no purpose, he at last had recourse to this expedient: he ordered his Sons to be called before him, and a short bundle of sticks to be brought; and then commanded them, one by one, to try if, with all their might and strength, they could any of them break it. They all tried, but to no purpose; for the sticks being closely and compactly bound up together, it was impossible for the force of man to do it.

After this the father ordered the bundle to be untied, and gave a single stick to each of his Sons, at the same time bidding him try to break it, which, when each did, with all imaginable ease, the father addressed himself to them to this effect: "O, my sons, behold the power of unity! for if you, in like manner, would but keep yourselves strictly joined in the bonds of friendship, it would not be in the power of any mortal to hurt you; but when once the ties of brotherly affection are dissolved, how soon do you fall to pieces, and become liable to be violated by every injurious hand that assaults you."

MORAL.

Union is strength. Love is a powerful bond, which, when cherished, will make those who are bound together by it irresistible.

AFountainvaried gambols played,Close by an humble Brook;While gently murmuring through the glade,Its peaceful course it took.Perhaps it gave one envious gazeUpon the Fountain's height,While glittering in the morning raysPre-eminently bright.In all the colours of the sky,Alternately it shone:The Brook observed it with a sigh,But quietly rolled on.The owner of the Fountain died;Neglect soon brought decay;The bursting pipes were ill-supplied;The Fountain ceased to play.But still the Brook its peaceful courseContinued to pursue;Her ample, inexhausted source,From Nature's fount she drew."Now," said the Brook, "I bless my fate,My showy rival gone;Contented in its native stateMy little stream rolls on.And all the world has cause, indeed,To own, with grateful heart,How much great Nature's works excelThe feeble works of art."

AFountainvaried gambols played,Close by an humble Brook;While gently murmuring through the glade,Its peaceful course it took.

Perhaps it gave one envious gazeUpon the Fountain's height,While glittering in the morning raysPre-eminently bright.

In all the colours of the sky,Alternately it shone:The Brook observed it with a sigh,But quietly rolled on.

The owner of the Fountain died;Neglect soon brought decay;The bursting pipes were ill-supplied;The Fountain ceased to play.

But still the Brook its peaceful courseContinued to pursue;Her ample, inexhausted source,From Nature's fount she drew.

"Now," said the Brook, "I bless my fate,My showy rival gone;Contented in its native stateMy little stream rolls on.

And all the world has cause, indeed,To own, with grateful heart,How much great Nature's works excelThe feeble works of art."

MORAL.

Humble usefulness is preferable to idle splendour.

The Mice called a general council, and, having met, after the doors were locked, entered into a free consultation about ways and means how to render their fortunes and estatesmore secure from the danger of the Cat. Many things were offered, and much was debated, "pro and con," upon the matter. At last, a young Mouse, in a fine, florid speech, concluded with an expedient, and that the only one, which was to put them for the future entirely out of the power of the enemy; and this was that the Cat should wear a bell about her neck, which, upon the least motion, would give the alarm, and be a signal for them to retire into their holes. This speech was received with great applause, and it was even proposed by some that the Mouse who made it should have the thanks of the assembly; upon which an old, grave Mouse, who had sat silent all the while, stood up, and, in another speech, owned that the contrivance was admirable, and the author of it, without doubt, an ingenious Mouse, but, he said, he thought it would not be so proper to vote him thanks till he should farther inform them how this bell was to be fastened about the Cat's neck, and what Mouse would undertake to do it.

MORAL.

Many things appear excellent in theory which are impossible in practice. It often requires a great deal of courage to carry out projects which a fine, florid speech may persuade the hearers are most plausible.

AFox, having fallen into a well, made a shift by sticking his claws into the sides to keep his head above water. Soon after a Wolf came and peeped over the brink, to whom the Fox applied very earnestly for assistance; entreating that he would help him to a rope, or something of the kind, which might favour his escape. The Wolf moved with compassion at his misfortune, could not forbear expressing his concern. "Ah, poor Reynard," says he, "I am sorry for you with all my heart; how could you possibly come into this melancholy condition?"

"Nay, pr'ythee, friend," replied the Fox, "if you wish me well, do not stand pitying me, but lend me some succour as fast as you can; for pity is but cold comfort when one is up to the chin in water, and within a hair's breadth of starving or drowning."

MORAL.

Mere expressions of pity, without a desire or attempt to alleviate suffering, are a mockery. He that would be truly a friend, will be ready to give his assistance when needed.

As a Wolf was roaming over a farm, he came to a field of oats, but not being able to eat them, he left them and went his way.

Presently, meeting with a Horse, he bade him come with him into the field, "For," says he, "I have found some capital oats; and I have not tasted one, but have kept them all for you, for the very sound of your teeth is music to my ear." But the Horse replied, "A pretty fellow! if Wolves were able to eat oats, I suspect you would not have preferred your ears to your appetite."

MORAL.

Little thanks are due to him, who only gives away whatever is of no use to himself.

THE HORSE AND THE WOLF.THE HORSE AND THE WOLF.

Two springs, which issued from the same mountain, began their course together: one of them took her way in a silentand gentle stream, while the other rushed along with a sounding and rapid current. "Sister," said the latter, "at the rate you move, you will probably be dried up, before you advance much farther; whereas, for myself, I will venture a wager, that, within two or three hundred furlongs, I shall become navigable; and, after distributing commerce and wealth wherever I flow, I shall majestically proceed to pay my tribute to the ocean. So, farewell, dear sister! and patiently submit to your fate."

Her sister made no reply; but, calmly descending to the meadows below, increased her stream by numberless little rills which she collected in her progress, till, at length, she was enabled to rise into a considerable river; whilst the proud stream, who had the vanity to depend solely upon her own sufficiency, continued a shallow brook; and was glad, at last, to be helped forward, by throwing herself into the arms of her despised sister.

MORAL.

His strength in words the blusterer vainly spends, While steadiness in quiet gains its ends.

ARaven, while with glossy breast,Her new laid eggs she fondly pressed,And, on her wicker-work high mounted,Her chickens prematurely counted.(A fault philosophers might blame,If quite exempted from the same,)Enjoyed at ease the genial day;'Twas April, as the bumpkins say;—The legislature called it May;But suddenly, a wind, as highAs ever swept a winter's sky,Shook the young leaves about her ears,And filled her with a thousand fears,Lest the rude blast should snap the bough,And spread her golden hopes below.But just at eve the blowing weather,And all her fears, were hushed together."And now," quoth poor unthinking Ralph,"'Tis over, and the brood is safe."(For Ravens, though as birds of omen,They teach both conjurors and old women;To tell us what is to befall,Can't prophesy themselves at all.)The morning came, when neighbour Hodge,Who long had marked her airy lodge,And destined all the treasure there,A gift to his expecting fair,Climbed, like a squirrel to his dray,And bore the worthless prize away.

(For Ravens, though as birds of omen,They teach both conjurors and old women;To tell us what is to befall,Can't prophesy themselves at all.)The morning came, when neighbour Hodge,Who long had marked her airy lodge,And destined all the treasure there,A gift to his expecting fair,Climbed, like a squirrel to his dray,And bore the worthless prize away.

MORAL.

Safety consists not in escapeFrom danger of a frightful shape;Fate steals along with silent tread,Found oftenest in what least we dread;Frowns in the storm with angry brow,But in the sunshine strikes the blow.

AFox, hard pressed by the hounds, was getting over a hedge, but tore his foot upon a Bramble, which grew just inthe midst of it, upon which he reproached the Bramble for his inhospitable cruelty in using a stranger, which had fled to him for protection, after such a barbarous manner. "Yes," says the Bramble, "you intended to have made me serve your turn, I know; but take this piece of advice with you for the future: Never lay hold of a Bramble again, as you value your sweet person; for laying hold is a privilege that belongs to us Brambles, and we do not care to let it go out of the family."

MORAL.

Impertinent people, who take liberties with others, are often much surprised if they are retorted on with severity. It is better, then, to keep from undue familiarity with strangers, for we know not of what temper they may be.

As a clownish fellow was driving his cart along a deep miry lane, the wheels stuck so fast in the clay, that the horses could not draw them out. Upon this he fell a-bawling and praying to Hercules to come and help him.

Hercules, looking down from a cloud, bade him not liethere, like an idle rascal, as he was, but get up and whip his horses stoutly, and clap his shoulder to the wheel; adding, that this was the only way for him to obtain his assistance.

MORAL.

The man who asks Heaven for gifts, and neglects the gifts Heaven has given, must expect silence until he shows that he is in earnest by putting his shoulder to the wheel.

On the margin of a large lake, which was inhabited by a great number of Frogs, a company of Boys happened to be at play. Their diversion was duck and drake, and whole volleys of stones were thrown into the water, to the great annoyance and danger of the poor terrified Frogs. At length, one of the most hardy, lifting up his head above the surface of the lake;—"Ah! dear children!" said he, "why will ye learn so soon to be cruel? Consider, I beseech you, that though this may be sport toyou, it is death tous."

MORAL.

A noble mind disdains to gainIts pleasure from another's pain.

Abriskyoung Cock, in company with two or three pullets, raking upon a dunghill for something to entertain them with, happened to scratch up a jewel, which sparkled with an exceeding bright lustre; but, not knowing what to do with it, endeavoured to cover his ignorance under a look of contempt. So, shrugging up his wings, shaking his head, and putting on a grimace, he expressed himself to this purpose: "Indeed, you are a very fine thing, but I know not what business you have here. I make no scruple of declaring that my taste lies quite another way, and I had rather have one grain of dear delicious barley than all the jewels under the sun."

MORAL.

We should not despise as worthless what does not come within the limit of our understanding. Some lose what is truly valuable for want of knowledge, and prefer what is comparatively worthless.

THE COCK AND THE JEWEL.THE COCK AND THE JEWEL.

ANightingale, that, all day long,Had cheered the village with his song,Nor yet at eve his note suspended,Nor yet when eventide was ended,Began to feel, as well he might,The keen demands of appetite;When, looking eagerly around,He spied, far off, upon the ground,A something shining in the dark,And knew the Glow-worm by his spark;So, stooping down from hawthorn top,He thought to put him in his crop.The Worm, aware of his intent,Harangued him thus, right eloquent:—"Did you admire my lamp," quoth he,"As much as I your minstrelsy,You would abhor to do me wrong,As much as I to spoil your song;For 'twas the self-same power divineTaught you to sing and me to shine;That you with music, I with light,Might beautify and cheer the night."The songster heard his short oration,And, warbling out his approbation,Released him, as my story tells,And found a supper somewhere else.

MORAL.

From this short fable, youth may learnTheir real interest to discern,That brother should not strive with brother,And worry and oppress each other;But, joined in unity and peace,Their mutual happiness increase:Pleased when each others' faults they hide,And in their virtues feel a pride.

It was reported that the Lion was sick, and the beasts were made to believe that they could not make their courtbetter than by going to visit him. Upon this, they generally went, but it was particularly remarked that the Fox was not one of the number. The Lion, therefore, dispatched one of his Jackals to sound him about it, and to ask him why he had so little charity and respect as never to come near him at a time when he lay so dangerously ill, and everybody else had been to see him. "Why," replied the Fox, "pray present my duty to his majesty, and tell him that I have the same respect for him as ever, and have been coming several times to kiss his royal paw, but I am so terribly frightened at the mouth of his cave, to see the print of my fellow-subjects' feet all pointing forwards, and none backwards, that I had not resolution enough to venture in."

Now, the truth of the matter was, that the sickness of the Lion was only a sham to draw the beasts into his den, the more easily to devour them.

MORAL.

It is well to weigh and consider the nature of any proposal thoroughly before we accede to it; but, certainly, if we have reason, from the injury done to others, to suspect that we may suffer harm, it is decidedly better to decline.

ALion, tired with state affairs,Quite sick of pomp, and worn with cares,Resolved (remote from noise and strife)In peace to pass his latter life.It was proclaimed: the day was set:Behold the general council met:The Fox was viceroy named. The crowdTo the new regent humbly bowed!Wolves, bears, and mighty tigers bend,And strive who most shall condescend.The crowd admire his wit, his sense:Each word hath weight and consequence.The flatterer all his art displays;He who hath power, is sure of praise.A Fox stepped forth before the rest,And thus the servile throng addressed:—"How vast his talents, born to rule,And train'd in virtue's honest school!What clemency his temper sways!How uncorrupt are all his ways!Beneath his conduct and commandRapine shall cease to waste the land;What blessings must attend the nationUnder this good administration!"He said. A Goose, who distant stood,Harangu'd apart the cackling brood:"Whene'er I hear a knave commend,He bids me shun his worthy friend.What praise! what mighty commendation!But 'twas a Fox who spoke th' oration.Foxes this government may prize,As gentle, plentiful, and wise;If they enjoy the sweets, 'tis plainWe Geese must feel a tyrant reign.What havoc now shall thin our race!When every petty clerk in place,To prove his taste, and seem polite,Will feed on Geese both noon and night."

ALion, tired with state affairs,Quite sick of pomp, and worn with cares,Resolved (remote from noise and strife)In peace to pass his latter life.

It was proclaimed: the day was set:Behold the general council met:The Fox was viceroy named. The crowdTo the new regent humbly bowed!Wolves, bears, and mighty tigers bend,And strive who most shall condescend.The crowd admire his wit, his sense:Each word hath weight and consequence.The flatterer all his art displays;He who hath power, is sure of praise.A Fox stepped forth before the rest,And thus the servile throng addressed:—

"How vast his talents, born to rule,And train'd in virtue's honest school!What clemency his temper sways!How uncorrupt are all his ways!Beneath his conduct and commandRapine shall cease to waste the land;What blessings must attend the nationUnder this good administration!"

He said. A Goose, who distant stood,Harangu'd apart the cackling brood:

"Whene'er I hear a knave commend,He bids me shun his worthy friend.What praise! what mighty commendation!But 'twas a Fox who spoke th' oration.Foxes this government may prize,As gentle, plentiful, and wise;If they enjoy the sweets, 'tis plainWe Geese must feel a tyrant reign.What havoc now shall thin our race!When every petty clerk in place,To prove his taste, and seem polite,Will feed on Geese both noon and night."

MORAL.

Those flatter the plunderer who share in the spoil.

ADoe, that had but one eye, used to graze near the sea, and that she might be the more secure from harm, she kept her blind side toward the water, from whence she had no apprehension of danger, and with the other surveyed the country as she fed.

By this vigilance and precaution she thought herself in the utmost security; when a sly fellow, with two or three of his companions, who had been poaching after her several days to no purpose, at last took a boat, and, fetching a compass upon the sea, came gently down upon her, and shot her. The Doe, in the agonies of death, breathed out this doleful complaint:—"Oh, hard fate! that I should receive my death wound from that side whence I expected no ill; and be safe in that part where I looked for the most danger."

MORAL.

Our troubles and dangers frequently arise from the direction we least expect them.

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