Aesop, in Rhyme Part 10

Now they were large and luscious too, Quite purple, and beautiful to view.

So up he jumps with many a bound, Until exhausted to the ground, He falls. The grapes hang o'er his head, In cl.u.s.ters large, "Well! well!" he said, "You are but green, and hard as stone, And all my time away is thrown.

I'll leave you to your solitude, You are not fit to make me food."

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THE MOUSE AND THE WEASEL.

A very thin and hungry mouse, Into a granary stole, Where stood a basket full of grain, In which was a small hole.

After much squeezing he got in, And there he ate his fill; But when he tried to issue out, The hole seemed smaller still.

A weasel who stood looking on, Cried out in sneering tone, "You can't come out, my little dear, Until you've smaller grown.

"You were half-starved when you crept in, And now you are quite stout; So cease to eat until you can, As you got in, get out."

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THE MISER AND HIS TREASURE.

In a retired spot, A miser had got A very large treasure in store.

And it was his delight, Each morn and each night, To count it and add to it more.

He had made the hole deep, And he thought none would peep, To find out his secret retreat.

But a servant so sly, His master did spy, And thought that his cunning he'd beat.

So one dark winter night, He took out his light, And to the field hastened away; And he laughed in his sleeve, To think how 'twould grieve His master to miss it next day.

And indeed the distress Of his lord you may guess, For words can't describe it, I'm sure.

He tore out his hair, Clasp'd his hands in despair And cried he was ruined and poor.

A man pa.s.sing by, His grief chanced to spy; And told him, "'tis useless to mourn.

You can look at the hole, To solace your soul, Although all the money is gone."

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THE JACKDAW AND THE PEAc.o.c.kS.

Thus Esop has the folly shown, To build on merits not your own.

A jackdaw, empty, pert and vain, Who held his equals in disdain, One day some beauteous feathers found, Left by a peac.o.c.k on the ground.

When in the gaudy plumage dress'd, The shallow thing his fortune bless'd; With stately gesture strode along, And boldly join'd the peac.o.c.k throng; Who, his impertinence to pay, First stripp'd him, and then chas'd away.

The crest-fall'n c.o.xcomb homeward sneaks, And his forsaken comrades seeks; Where'er he comes, with scorn they leave him, And not a jackdaw will receive him.

Says one he had disdain'd, at last, "Such as thou art, thou mightst have pa.s.s'd, And hadst not now been cast behind, The scorn and scandal of thy kind."

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THE SPARROW AND THE HARE.

Who dares another's ills deride, Had best against his own provide.

An eagle pouncing on a hare, With piercing cries puss rends the air; When a pert sparrow from a tree, Insulted thus her misery: "Ho, ho! poor puss, thy boasted speed Has failed thee, then, in time of need!"

Scarce had she spoke, when, like an arrow, A vulture darted on the sparrow.

Ere the poor hare resign'd her breath, "This sight," she cried, "consoles in death --That thou, who hast my woes derided, My last of miseries hast divided!"

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THE a.s.s AND THE LION.

Vain boasters credit may surprise, Till known; who knows them will despise.

A lion once a hunting took An a.s.s, and hid him in a nook.

To drive the forest made him bray, That he might seize the pa.s.sing prey.

Long-ears set up such horrid cries, That every creature trembling flies; The lion, practised in his trade, Had soon abundant carnage made; Satiate with spoil, the a.s.s he calls, And bid him cease his hideous brawls.

The king he found with slaughter weary, Surrounded by his n.o.ble quarry, And, puffed with self-importance, said: "Sir, to some purpose I have bray'd!"

"No a.s.s more famously could do,"

The lion says, "but thee I knew, Or I might have been frightened too."

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