Aesop, in Rhyme Part 9

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THE HARE AND THE BRAMBLE.

A hare, closely pursued, thought it prudent and meet To a bramble for refuge awhile to retreat; He enter'd the covert, but entering, found That briers and thorns did on all sides abound; And that, though he was safe, yet he never could stir, But his sides they would wound, or would tear off his fur: He shrugg'd up his shoulders, but would not complain: "To repine at small evils," quoth puss, "is in vain: That no bliss can be perfect, I very well knew-- But from the same source good and evil doth flow-- And full sorely my skin though these briers may rend, Yet they keep off the dogs, and my life will defend: For the sake of the good, then, let evil be borne-- For each sweet has its bitter, each bramble its thorn."

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THE HORSE AND THE STAG.

Within a certain pasture, There lived some creatures wild.

The sky was blue, the gra.s.s was green, The air was very mild.

Now though this field was large and fine, They could not live in love: But for the gra.s.s in one large spot A horse and stag once strove.

The stag was strongest in the strife, And so the battle won; And from the field the horse was sent And with chagrin was stung.

So to the man the horse applied, For help, the stag to beat, And so effectual was his help, The stag had to retreat.

But when to go away he tried, The man held to him fast: "Now that you are of use," he cried, "You'll serve me to the last."

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THE CAT AND THE OLD MOUSE.

The mice o'errun a certain house-- In every spot was found a mouse.

So for a cat the mistress went, And to the kitchen puss was sent.

With diligence were many caught, And eaten up. The mice were taught That they some cunning must devise To keep the prey from p.u.s.s.y's eyes.

So on a certain shelf so high, To reach which puss in vain might try, There all the mice together got, And they resolved to leave it not.

So p.u.s.s.y found that to eat them, She must resort to stratagem.

And holding fast by means of pegs, She hung suspended by the legs.

And downward she then hung her head, And looked as though she were quite dead-- And thus she sought to cheat the mice, And from their dwellings them entice.

A cunning mouse, well "up to trap,"

On p.u.s.s.y her two eyes did clap.

"Aha!" she cried, "puss are you there?

Within your reach, I would not dare-- Not e'en though it were proved by law, That your whole skin were stuffed with straw."

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THE FOX AND THE VIZOR MASK.

A fox while walking out one day, Into a toy shop chanced to stray; Among the toys that stood arrayed, A vizor mask was there displayed, With rosy cheeks, complexion fair, And ruby lips and auburn hair, And eyes of blue, and Grecian nose; And many beauties to disclose, It seemed made. The fox, with sighs, Gazed on. "Ah, ah!" he cries, "Look at this head it naught contains, It has rare beauty, but no brains."

MORAL.

The accomplished beau, in air and mien how blest.

His hat well fas.h.i.+oned, and his hair well dress'd-- But still undress'd within: to give him brains Exceeds his hatter's or his barber's pains.

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THE GOOSE THAT LAID GOLDEN EGGS.

A man once had a goose I'm told, Which had laid each day an egg of gold.

Now if this treasure were well spent, It might make any one content.

But no! this man desired more; And though of eggs he had rich store; He thought one day the goose he'd kill, And then at once his pockets fill.

So chasing goosey round and round, She soon was caught and firmly bound He opened her from neck to tail And then his folly did bewail.

For not a single egg was there, And thus he lost this treasure rare.

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THE FOX AND THE GRAPES.

A fox once took it in his pate, To go beyond a garden gate, To see if there grew on the trees, Some food his hunger to appease.

So in he went and there he spied Some grapes. To reach them hard he tried.