Aesop, in Rhyme Part 12

Not what they hear, but what they see, Will children and domestics be.

A crab one day her daughter chid; "You never do as you are bid, Have I not told you o'er and o'er, That awkward gait to use no more?

Learn, ninny, once for all to know, Folks forward and not backward go."

"Mamma," says Miss, "how strange you talk!

Have I not learn'd from you to walk?

Were I to move the other way, How could I follow you I pray?"

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THE SUN AND THE WIND.

Phebus and Boreas from on high Upon the road a traveller spy, Wearing a cloak for fear of rain.

Says Boreas, "his precaution's vain 'Gainst me, I'll show you for a joke How soon I'll make him quit his cloak."

"Come on," says Phebus, "let us see Who best succeeds, or you or me."

The wind to blow so fierce began, He almost had upset his man; But still his cloak, for all his roar, Was wrapp'd more closely than before.

When Boreas what he could had done, "Now for my trial," says the Sun, And with his beams so warm'd the air, The man his mantle could not bear, But open'd first, then threw aside.

Learn hence, unbending sons of pride Persuasive manners will prevail, When menaces and bl.u.s.ter fail.

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THE TWO POTS.

Forc'd on a stream to make their way, To pot of bra.s.s says pot of clay: "Since bra.s.s is stout and clay is frail, Pray let us at a distance sail.

Not your intention that I fear Sir Bra.s.s," adds humble Earthenware, "While the winds leave you to yourself; But woe betide my ribs of delf, If it should dash our sides together; For mine would be the damage, whether Their force should you or I impel; To pray proceed, and fare you well."

Learn hence, ye folks of low estate, To keep due distance from the great.

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HERCULES AND THE CARTER.

His cart bemired, a carter pray'd To Hercules to come and aid.

"Up!" says the G.o.d, "thou lazy dog.

And lift the axle from the bog; Think'st thou G.o.ds nothing have to do But listen to such knaves as you?"

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THE ANT AND THE GRa.s.sHOPPER.

From a wise emmet, well sustain'd On what her industry had gain'd, A gra.s.shopper some aid desir'd.

"What was his trade?" the ant inquir'd.

"I've none," the gra.s.shopper replied; "I range the country far and wide, Singing all day from door to door, And have no time to form a store."

Shutting her granaries, says the ant, "No wonder, friend, you are in want; He who all summer sings, may chance In winter to be forc'd to dance."

To spend his time in idle song, The thoughtless gra.s.shopper was wrong; And not to give a small supply, The emmet mean and n.i.g.g.ardly.

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THE CROW AND THE PITCHER.

Patience and ingenuity The want of natural means supply.

A thirsty crow some water found, But in a vessel so profound, That with her neck at utmost stretch, A single drop she could not reach.

Then stones she in the pitcher places, Which to the top the water raises; And by this innocent device Her thirst at leisure satisfies.

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THE ANGLER AND THE LITTLE FISH.

An angler a small salmon caught, Who with much earnestness besought That he would let her go: says she, "What can you do with such as me!

Next year when grown a little bigger, I in your bag might make a figure."

The prudent man replied, "No, no; Into my pouch, though small, you go.

A bird in hand is better far, Than two that in the bushes are."