Aesop, in Rhyme Part 8

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THE REDBREAST AND THE SPARROW.

Perch'd on a tree, hard by a rural cot, A redbreast singing cheer'd the humble spot; A sparrow on the thatch in critic spleen Thus took occasion to reprove the strain: "Dost thou," cried he, "thou dull dejected thing, Presume to emulate the birds of spring?

Can thy weak warbling dare approach the thrush Or blackbird's accents in the hawthorn bush?

Or with the lark dost thou poor mimic, vie, Or nightingale's unequal'd melody?

These other birds possessing twice thy fire Have been content in silence to admire."

"With candor judge," the minstrel bird replied, "Nor deem my efforts arrogance or pride; Think not ambition makes me act this part, I only sing because I love the art: I envy not, indeed, but much revere Those birds whose fame the test of skill will bear; I feel no hope arising to surpa.s.s, Nor with their charming songs my own to cla.s.s; Far other aims incite my humble strain.

Then surely I your pardon may obtain, While I attempt the rural vale to move By imitating of the lays I love."

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THE POET AND THE COBWEBS.

A bard, whose pen had brought him more Of fame than of the precious ore, In Grub Street garret oft reposed With eyes contemplative half-closed.

Cobwebs around in antique glory, Chief of his household inventory, Suggested to his roving brains Amazing mult.i.tude of scenes.

"This batch," said he, "of murder-spinners Who toil their brains out for their dinners, Though base, too long unsung has lain By kindred brethren of Duck Lane, Unknowing that its little plan Holds all the cyclopedia of man.

"This one, whose radiant thread Is every where from centre spread, Like orbs in planetary skies, Enclosed with rounds of various size, This curious frame I aptly call A cobweb mathematical.

"In secret holes, that dirty line, Where never sun presumes to s.h.i.+ne, With straws, and filth, and time beset, Where all is fish that comes to net, That musty film, the Muse supposes Figures the web of Virtuosos.

"You, where the gaudy insect sings, Are cobwebs of the court of kings, Where gilded threads conceal the gin.

And broider'd knaves are caught therein.

"That holly, fix'd 'mid mildew'd panes, Of cheerless Christmas the remains (I only dream and sing its cheer, My Muse keeps Lent throughout the year) That holly, labor'd o'er and o'er, Is cobwebs of the lawyer's lore, Where frisky flies, on gambols borne, Find out the snare, when lost, undone.

"These dangling webs, with dirt and age, Display their tatter'd equipage, So like the antiquarian crew, That those in every thread I view.

"Here death disseminated lies, In shrunk anatomies of flies; And amputated limbs declare What vermin lie in ambush there: A baited lure with drugg'd perdition, A cobweb, not misnamed physician.

"Those plaited webs, long pendent there, Of sable bards a subtle snare, Of all-collective disposition, Which holds like gout of inquisition, May well denominated be, The trap-webs of divinity."

But whilst our bard described the scene, A bee stole through a broken pane; Fraught with the sweets of every flower, In taking his adventurous tour, Is there entrapp'd. Exert thy sting, Bold bee, and liberate thy wing!

The poet kindly dropp'd his pen, And freed the captive from its den; Then musing o'er his empty table, Forgot the moral of his fable.

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THE EPICURE AND THE PHYSICIAN.

Two hundred years ago, or more, An heir possess'd a miser's store; Rejoiced to find his father dead, Till then on thrifty viands fed; Unnumber'd dishes crown'd his board, With each unwholesome trifle stored.

He ate--and long'd to eat again, But sigh'd for appet.i.te in vain: His food, though dress'd a thousand ways, Had lost its late accustom'd praise; He relish'd nothing--sickly grew-- Yet long'd to taste of something new.

It chanced in this disastrous case, One morn betimes he join'd the chase: Swift o'er the plain the hunters fly, Each echoing out a joyous cry; A forest next before them lay; He, left behind, mistook his way, And long alone bewildered rode, He found a peasant's poor abode; But fasting kept, from six to four, Felt hunger, long unfelt before; The friendly swain this want supplied, And Joan some eggs and bacon fried.

Not dainty now, the squire in haste Fell to, and praised their savory taste; Nay, said his meal had such a _gout_ He ne'er in tarts and olios knew.

Rejoiced to think he'd found a dish, That crown'd his long unanswer'd wish, With gold his thankful host he paid, Who guides him back from whence he stray'd; But ere they part, so well he dined, His rustic host the squire enjoin'd To send him home next day a stock Of those same eggs and charming hock.

He hoped this dish of savory meat Would prove that still 'twas bliss to eat; But, ah! he found, like all the rest, These eggs were tasteless things at best; The bacon not a dog would touch, So rank--he never tasted such!

He sent express to fetch the clown, And thus address'd him with a frown: "These eggs, this bacon, that you sent, For Christian food were never meant; As soon I'll think the moon's a cheese, As those you dress'd the same with these.

Little I thought"--"Sir," says the peasant, "I'm glad your wors.h.i.+p is so pleasant: You joke, I'm sure: for I can swear, The same the fowls that laid them are!

And know as well that all the bacon From one the self-same flitch was taken: The air, indeed, about our green Is known to make the stomach keen."

"Is that the case?" the squire replied; "That air shall be directly tried."

He gave command--a house he hired, And down he goes with hope inspired, And takes his cooks--a favorite train; But still they ply their art in vain.

Perhaps 'twas riding did the feat: He rides,--but still he cannot eat.

At last a friend, to physic bred, Perceived his case, and thus he said: "Be ruled by me, you soon shall eat, With hearty gust, the plainest meat; A pint of milk each rising morn, Procure from cow of sable horn; Shake in three drops of morning dew From twig of ever-verdant yew; It must by your own hand be done, Your face turn'd westward from the sun.

With this, ere half an hour is past, Well crumb'd with biscuit, break your fast; Which done, from food (or all is vain) For twice three hours and one abstain-- Then dine on one substantial dish, If plainly dress'd, of flesh or fish."

Grave look'd the doctor as he spake-- The squire concludes th' advice to take, And, cheated into temperance, found The bliss his former luxury drown'd.

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THE FROGS DESIRING A KING.

Athens in freedom flourish'd long, 'Till licence seized the giddy throng.

Just laws grown weary to obey, They sunk to tyranny a prey.

Pisistratus, though mild he sway'd, Their turbulence had not allay'd.

Whilst they were cursing in despair, The yoke they had not learn'd to bear, Esop, their danger to describe, Rehears'd this fable to the tribe:

"Some frogs, like you, of freedom tired, From Jupiter a king desir'd: One that should execute the law, And keep the dissolute in awe.

Jove laugh'd, and threw them down a log, That thundering fell and shook the bog.

Amongst the reeds the tremblers fled: Till one more bold advanc'd his head, And saw the monarch of the flood Lying half smothered in the mud.

He calls the croaking race around: "A wooden king!" the banks resound.

Fear once remov'd they swim about him, And gibe and jeer and mock and flout him; And messengers to Jove depute, Effectively to grant their suit.

A hungry stork he sent them then, Who soon had swallow'd half the fen.

Their woes scarce daring to reveal, To Mercury by night they steal, And beg him to entreat of Jove The direful tyrant to remove.

'No,' says the G.o.d, 'they chose their lot, And must abide what they have got:'

So you, my friends, had best go home In peace, lest something worse should come."

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