Favourite Fables in Prose and Verse Part 7

It is the just punishment of greediness to lose the substance by grasping at the shadow; while the man who would take what does not belong to him deserves to lose what he has.

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE DOG AND THE SHADOW.]

FABLE x.x.xVIII.

THE HERMIT AND THE BEAR.

ONCE on a time, a mountain Bear Lived in a forest drear, with no Bears near him; Fat, fierce, and sulky.

Nor man nor other beast approached his lair; His neighbours all despise, or hate, or fear him.

'Tis good to talk--to hold one's tongue-- Though either in excess be wrong: Our hermit bulky, So s.h.a.ggy, sullen, taciturn, and rude, Bear as he was, grew sick of solitude.

At the same time, by chance, retired Far from the world, a man advanced in age, But stout and healthy.

Not with devotion's flame his heart was fired; Not prayer and fasting occupied the sage; Though on mankind he shut his door, No vows of poverty he swore: The wight was wealthy.

But by some treacherous friend, or fair, betrayed, He lived with plants, and communed with his spade.

High priest of Flora you might call him; Nor less was he the favourite of Pomona.

But one day, walking, He found it dull; and should some ill befall him, In his sweet paradise, he felt alone,--Ah!

For neither rose, nor pink, nor vine, Except in such a lay as mine, Are given to talking.

His head old Time had now long years heaped many on; So he resolved to look for some companion.

On this important expedition-- But fearing his researches would be vain-- The sage departed: Revolving deeply his forlorn condition, He slowly mused along a narrow lane; When on a sudden--unawares-- A nose met his:--it was the Bear's!

With fright he started.

Fear is a common feeling: he that wise is, Although his fright be great, his fear disguises.

Prudence suggested--"Stand your ground; 'Tis hard to turn, and harder still to dash on."

Prudence prevails.

'Twixt kindred minds a sympathy is found Which lights up oft at sight a tender pa.s.sion.

Where s.e.xes are of different kind; And oft 'twill ties of friends.h.i.+p bind Between two males: These magic signs our hermits, at a glance, see: Each found he strongly pleased the other's fancy.

Bruin at compliments was awkward, But was not long his sentiments in telling-- "Old man, I like you!"

The man replied, "Fair sir, you need not walk hard, In half an hour you'll reach my humble dwelling.

I've milk, and various sorts of fruit, If any should your palate suit, Take what may strike you; On me it will confer the highest pleasure To spread before you all my garden's treasure."

On jogged the human Hermit with the Bear, Like smoking Germans, few words interlarding; Though little said, Finding their tempers suited to a hair, They grew firm friends before they reached the garden.

Each took his task, their moods the same, One dug, the other hunted game, And often sped; And Bruin, o'er his friend a strict watch keeping, Chased off the flies that haunted him when sleeping.

One afternoon, as in the sun The weary Hermit took his usual nap, And at his post The faithful Bear his daily work begun, Giving full many a brush and gentle slap, With a light whisp of herbs sweet-scented, And thus the teasing flies prevented, That buzzing host, From fixing on his sleeping patron's visage, Sunk in the deep repose so fit for his age.

One blue-bottle his care defied; No place could please him but the old man's nose, Quite unabashed.

The Bear, provoked, no means would leave untried; At last, a vigorous, certain mode, he chose: Extending wide his heavy paw, And thrusting hard each crooked claw, The fly was smashed: But his poor patron's face, so roughly patted, All streamed with blood, and smooth his nose was flatted.

The Bear sneaked off to humble distance, Seeing the damage he had done his friend; Who raged with smart.

But calling in philosophy's a.s.sistance, Anger, he thought, his wounds would never mend, So coolly said, "Farewell, friend Bruin!

Since you have laid my face in ruin, 'Tis time to part."

MORAL.

All those must such mishaps expect to share, Who, for a friend, think fit to take a Bear.

FABLE x.x.xIX.

THE SHEPHERD'S BOY AND THE WOLF.

A CERTAIN Shepherd's Boy, who kept sheep upon a common, in sport and wantonness would often cry out, "The Wolf! the Wolf!" By this means, he several times drew the husbandmen in an adjoining field from their work; who, finding themselves deluded, resolved for the future to take no notice of his alarm. Soon after the Wolf came indeed. The boy cried out in earnest; but no heed being given to his cries, the sheep were devoured by the Wolf.

MORAL.

The notorious liar, besides the sin of the thing, will not be believed when, by chance, he tells the truth.

FABLE XL.

THE FAWN AND HER MOTHER.

A HIND was one day stamping with her foot, and bellowing so loudly that the whole herd quaked for fear, when one of her little Fawns, coming up to her, said, "Mother, what is the reason that you, who are so strong and bold at all other times, if you do but hear the cry of the hounds, are so afraid of them?" "What you say is true," replied the Hind; "though I know not how to account for it. I am, indeed, vigorous and strong enough, and often resolve that nothing shall ever dismay my courage; but, alas! I no sooner hear the voice of a hound than all my spirits fail me, and I cannot help making off as fast as my legs can carry me."

MORAL.

When we have done all, Nature will remain what she was. There is no arguing a coward into courage.

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE FAWN AND HER MOTHER.]

FABLE XLI.

THE TORTOISE AND THE EAGLE.

The Tortoise, weary of his condition, by which he was confined to creep upon the ground, and being ambitious to have a prospect, and look about him, gave out that, if any bird would take him up into the air, and show him the world, he would reward him with the discovery of many precious stones, which he knew were hidden in a certain part of the earth.

The Eagle undertook to do as he desired, and, when he had performed his commission, demanded the reward. But, finding the Tortoise could not make good his words, he stuck his talons into the softer parts of his body, and made him a sacrifice to his revenge.