A Hundred Fables of La Fontaine Part 11

They only think to lose with ease, The goat her milk, the sheep his fleece: They're, maybe, right; but as for me This ride is quite another matter.

Of service only on the platter, My death is quite a certainty.

Adieu, my dear old piggery!"

The porker's logic proved at once Himself a prophet and a dunce.

_Hope ever gives a present ease,_ _But fear beforehand kills:_ _The wisest he who least foresees_ _Inevitable ills._

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE HOG THE GOAT AND THE SHEEP.]

The Rat and the Elephant.

A rat, of quite the smallest size, Fix'd on an elephant his eyes, And jeer'd the beast of high descent Because his feet so slowly went.

Upon his back, three stories high, There sat, beneath a canopy, A certain sultan of renown, His dog, and cat, and wife sublime, His parrot, servant, and his wine, All pilgrims to a distant town.

The rat profess'd to be amazed That all the people stood and gazed With wonder, as he pa.s.s'd the road, Both at the creature and his load.

"As if," said he, "to occupy A little more of land or sky Made one, in view of common sense, Of greater worth and consequence!

What see ye, men, in this parade, That food for wonder need be made?

The bulk which makes a child afraid?

In truth, I take myself to be, In all aspects, as good as he."

And further might have gone his vaunt; But, darting down, the cat Convinced him that a rat Is smaller than an elephant.

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE RAT AND THE ELEPHANT.]

The a.s.s and the Dog.

Along the road an a.s.s and dog One master following, did jog.

Their master slept: meanwhile, the a.s.s Applied his nippers to the gra.s.s, Much pleased in such a place to stop, Though there no thistle he could crop.

He would not be too delicate, Nor spoil a dinner for a plate, Which, but for that, his favourite dish, Were all that any a.s.s could wish.

"My dear companion," Towser said,-- "'Tis as a starving dog I ask it,-- Pray lower down your loaded basket, And let me get a piece of bread."

No answer--not a word!--indeed, The truth was, our Arcadian steed Fear'd lest, for every moment's flight, His nimble teeth should lose a bite.

At last, "I counsel you," said he, "to wait Till master is himself awake, Who then, unless I much mistake, Will give his dog the usual bait."

Meanwhile, there issued from the wood A creature of the wolfish brood, Himself by famine sorely pinch'd.

At sight of him the donkey flinch'd, And begg'd the dog to give him aid.

The dog budged not, but answer made,-- "I counsel thee, my friend, to run, Till master's nap is fairly done; There can, indeed, be no mistake, That he will very soon awake; Till then, scud off with all your might; And should he snap you in your flight, This ugly wolf,--why, let him feel The greeting of your well-shod heel.

I do not doubt, at all, but that Will be enough to lay him flat."

But ere he ceased it was too late; The a.s.s had met his cruel fate.

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE a.s.s AND THE DOG.]

Education.

Lapluck and Caesar brothers were, descended From dogs by Fame the most commended, Who falling, in their puppyhood, To different masters anciently, One dwelt and hunted in the boundless wood; From thieves the other kept a kitchen free.

At first, each had another name; But, by their bringing up, it came, While one improved upon his nature, The other grew a sordid creature, Till, by some scullion called Lapluck, The name ungracious ever stuck.

To high exploits his brother grew, Put many a stag at bay, and tore Full many a trophy from the boar; In short, him first, of all his crew, The world as Caesar knew; And care was had, lest, by a baser mate, His n.o.ble blood should e'er degenerate.

Not so with him of lower station, Whose race became a countless nation-- The common turnspits throughout France-- Where danger is, they don't advance-- Precisely the Antipodes Of what we call the Caesars, these!

_Oft falls the son below his sire's estate:_ _Through want of care all things degenerate._ _For lack of nursing Nature and her gifts,_ _What crowds from G.o.ds become mere kitchen-thrifts!_

[Ill.u.s.tration: EDUCATION.]

The Two Dogs and the Dead a.s.s.

Two lean and hungry mastiffs once espied A dead a.s.s floating on a water wide.

The distance growing more and more, Because the wind the carca.s.s bore,-- "My friend," said one, "your eyes are best; Pray let them on the water rest: What thing is that I seem to see?

An ox, or horse? what can it be?"

"Hey!" cried his mate; "what matter which, Provided we could get a flitch?

It doubtless is our lawful prey: The puzzle is to find some way To get the prize; for wide the s.p.a.ce To swim, with wind against your face.

Let's drink the flood; our thirsty throats Will gain the end as well as boats.

The water swallow'd, by and by We'll have the carca.s.s, high and dry-- Enough to last a week, at least."

Both drank as some do at a feast; Their breath was quench'd before their thirst, And presently the creatures burst!

_And such is man. Whatever he_ _May set his soul to do or be,_ _To him is possibility._ _How many vows he makes!_ _How many steps he takes!_ _How does he strive, and pant, and strain,_ _Fortune's or Glory's prize to gain!_

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE TWO DOGS AND THE DEAD a.s.s.]

The Monkey and the Leopard.

A monkey and a leopard were The rivals at a country fair.

Each advertised his own attractions.

Said one, "Good sirs, the highest place My merit knows; for, of his grace, The king hath seen me face to face; And, judging by his looks and actions, I gave the best of satisfactions.

When I am dead, 'tis plain enough, My skin will make his royal m.u.f.f.

So richly is it streak'd and spotted, So delicately waved and dotted, Its various beauty cannot fail to please."

And, thus invited, everybody sees; But soon they see, and soon depart.

The monkey's show-bill to the mart His merits thus sets forth the while, All in his own peculiar style:-- "Come, gentlemen, I pray you, come; In magic arts I am at home.

The whole variety in which My neighbour boasts himself so rich, Is to his simple skin confined, While mine is living in the mind.

For I can speak, you understand; Can dance, and practise sleight-of-hand; Can jump through hoops, and balance sticks; In short, can do a thousand tricks; One penny is my charge to you, And, if you think the price won't do, When you have seen, then I'll restore Each man his money at the door."

_The ape was not to reason blind;_ _For who in wealth of dress can find_ _Such charms as dwell in wealth of mind?_ _One meets our ever-new desires,_ _The other in a moment tires._ _Alas! how many lords there are,_ _Of mighty sway and lofty mien,_ _Who, like this leopard at the fair,_ _Show all their talents on the skin!_

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE MONKEY AND THE LEOPARD.]