Fables of La Fontaine Part 34

XIV.--THE INGRAt.i.tUDE AND INJUSTICE OF MEN TOWARDS FORTUNE.[19]

A trader on the sea to riches grew; Freight after freight the winds in favour blew; Fate steer'd him clear; gulf, rock, nor shoal Of all his bales exacted toll.

Of other men the powers of chance and storm Their dues collected in substantial form; While smiling Fortune, in her kindest sport, Took care to waft his vessels to their port.

His partners, factors, agents, faithful proved; His goods--tobacco, sugar, spice-- Were sure to fetch the highest price.

By fas.h.i.+on and by folly loved, His rich brocades and laces, And splendid porcelain vases, Enkindling strong desires, Most readily found buyers.

In short, gold rain'd where'er he went-- Abundance, more than could be spent-- Dogs, horses, coaches, downy bedding-- His very fasts were like a wedding.

A bosom friend, a look his table giving, Inquired whence came such sumptuous living.

'Whence should it come,' said he, superb of brow, 'But from the fountain of my knowing how?

I owe it simply to my skill and care In risking only where the marts will bear.'

And now, so sweet his swelling profits were, He risk'd anew his former gains: Success rewarded not his pains-- His own imprudence was the cause.

One s.h.i.+p, ill-freighted, went awreck; Another felt of arms the lack, When pirates, trampling on the laws, O'ercame, and bore it off a prize.

A third, arriving at its port, Had fail'd to sell its merchandize,-- The style and folly of the court Not now requiring such a sort.

His agents, factors, fail'd;--in short, The man himself, from pomp and princely cheer, And palaces, and parks, and dogs, and deer, Fell down to poverty most sad and drear.

His friend, now meeting him in shabby plight, Exclaim'd, 'And whence comes this to pa.s.s?'

'From Fortune,' said the man, 'alas!'

'Console yourself,' replied the friendly wight: 'For, if to make you rich the dame denies, She can't forbid you to be wise.'

What faith he gain'd, I do not wis; I know, in every case like this, Each claims the credit of his bliss, And with a heart ingrate Imputes his misery to Fate.[20]

[19] Abstemius.

[20] On this favourite subject with the easy-going La Fontaine--man's ungracious treatment of Fortune--see also the two preceding fables, and some neighbouring ones.

XV.--THE FORTUNE-TELLERS.

'Tis oft from chance opinion takes its rise, And into reputation multiplies.

This prologue finds pat applications In men of all this world's vocations; For fas.h.i.+on, prejudice, and party strife, Conspire to crowd poor justice out of life.

What can you do to counteract This reckless, rus.h.i.+ng cataract?

'Twill have its course for good or bad, As it, indeed, has always had.

A dame in Paris play'd the Pythoness[21]

With much of custom, and, of course, success.

Was any trifle lost, or did Some maid a husband wish, Or wife of husband to be rid, Or either s.e.x for fortune fish, Resort was had to her with gold, To get the hidden future told.

Her art was made of various tricks, Wherein the dame contrived to mix, With much a.s.surance, learned terms.

Now, chance, of course, sometimes confirms; And just as often as it did, The news was anything but hid.

In short, though, as to ninety-nine per cent., The lady knew not what her answers meant, Borne up by ever-babbling Fame, An oracle she soon became.

A garret was this woman's home, Till she had gain'd of gold a sum That raised the station of her spouse-- Bought him an office and a house.

As she could then no longer bear it, Another tenanted the garret.

To her came up the city crowd,-- Wives, maidens, servants, gentry proud,-- To ask their fortunes, as before; A Sibyl's cave was on her garret floor: Such custom had its former mistress drawn It lasted even when herself was gone.

It sorely tax'd the present mistress' wits To satisfy the throngs of teasing cits.

'I tell your fortunes! joke, indeed!

Why, gentlemen, I cannot read!

What can you, ladies, learn from me, Who never learn'd my A, B, C?'

Avaunt with reasons! tell she must,-- Predict as if she understood, And lay aside more precious dust Than two the ablest lawyers could.

The stuff that garnish'd out her room-- Four crippled chairs, a broken broom-- Help'd mightily to raise her merits,-- Full proof of intercourse with spirits!

Had she predicted e'er so truly, On floor with carpet cover'd duly, Her word had been a mockery made.

The fas.h.i.+on set upon the garret.

Doubt that?--none bold enough to dare it!

The other woman lost her trade.

All shopmen know the force of signs, And so, indeed, do some divines.

In palaces, a robe awry Has sometimes set the wearer high; And crowds his teaching will pursue Who draws the greatest listening crew.

Ask, if you please, the reason why.

[21] _Pythoness_.--The Pythoness was the priestess who gave out the oracles at Delphi.

XVI.--THE CAT, THE WEASEL, AND THE YOUNG RABBIT.[22]

John Rabbit's palace under ground Was once by Goody Weasel found.

She, sly of heart, resolved to seize The place, and did so at her ease.

She took possession while its lord Was absent on the dewy sward, Intent upon his usual sport, A courtier at Aurora's court.

When he had browsed his fill of clover And cut his pranks all nicely over, Home Johnny came to take his drowse, All snug within his cellar-house.

The weasel's nose he came to see, Outsticking through the open door.

'Ye G.o.ds of hospitality!'

Exclaim'd the creature, vexed sore, 'Must I give up my father's lodge?

Ho! Madam Weasel, please to budge, Or, quicker than a weasel's dodge, I'll call the rats to pay their grudge!'

The sharp-nosed lady made reply, That she was first to occupy.

The cause of war was surely small-- A house where one could only crawl!

And though it were a vast domain, Said she, 'I'd like to know what will Could grant to John perpetual reign,-- The son of Peter or of Bill,-- More than to Paul, or even me.'

John Rabbit spoke--great lawyer he-- Of custom, usage, as the law, Whereby the house, from sire to son, As well as all its store of straw, From Peter came at length to John.

Who could present a claim, so good As he, the first possessor, could?

'Now,' said the dame, 'let's drop dispute, And go before Raminagrobis, [23]

Who'll judge, not only in this suit, But tell us truly whose the globe is.'

This person was a hermit cat, A cat that play'd the hypocrite, A saintly mouser, sleek and fat, An arbiter of keenest wit.

John Rabbit in the judge concurr'd, And off went both their case to broach Before his majesty, the furr'd.

Said Clapperclaw, 'My kits, approach, And put your noses to my ears: I'm deaf, almost, by weight of years.'

And so they did, not fearing aught.

The good apostle, Clapperclaw, Then laid on each a well-arm'd paw, And both to an agreement brought, By virtue of his tusked jaw.

This brings to mind the fate Of little kings before the great.

[22] Fables of Bidpaii, "The Rat and the Cat." In Knatchbull's English edition it will be found at p. 275. Also in the Lokman Collection.

[23] _Raminagrobis._--This name occurs in Rabelais (Book III., ch.

21), where, however, it is not the name of a cat, but of a poet--understood to be meant for Guillaume Cretin, who lived in the times of Kings Charles VIII., Louis XII., and Francis I. See note to Bohn's edition of Rabelais.

XVII.--THE HEAD AND THE TAIL OF THE SERPENT.[24]

Two parts the serpent has-- Of men the enemies-- The head and tail: the same Have won a mighty fame, Next to the cruel Fates;-- So that, indeed, hence They once had great debates About precedence.

The first had always gone ahead; The tail had been for ever led; And now to Heaven it pray'd, And said, 'O, many and many a league, Dragg'd on in sore fatigue, Behind his back I go.

Shall he for ever use me so?

Am I his humble servant; No. Thanks to G.o.d most fervent!