A Fox, a cunning fellow and a jester, conversing once with a Tom-cat,
made light of all the cats, so that he made him angry. "You know not,
arrant Fox," said he to him, growing angry, "that I belong to the
noblest tribe of beasts, for I am descended from a family of heroes
without fear and reproach, who never have walked under a yoke of wain,
nor plough, to gather in the hay, to till the field, to do what is not
meet for a beast-hero,--nay, living aye in plenty, each his own master,
by honorable robbery. In short, I am descended from the swift Tiger, who
knows how to slay the kine; I am cousin to the Leopard, and even of his
Majesty, the Lion, a not distant relative, although I myself, perhaps,
be not a hero, nor great warrior, nor awful champion.
* * * * *
"That you are not a hero is easily discerned," our Fox retorted, "both
by your weak paw, and by your looks, and by your size. Who does not know
that the tail of the smallest dog--not to speak of his teeth--will chase
you away like the weakest frog into some hole, agog with fear? You, my
friend, are bold only with bones, in a corner of the room, making war on
a quiet, hungry mouse. I know of the high deeds of
"Du bist nor, Freund, a Chwat mit Bēiner
"In Winkele, in Haus,
"Bekämpfendig a stille, hungerige Maus.
"Ich wēiss nit vun die Maissim-tōwim,
"Vun deine adelige Krōwim,
"Nor du lebst nit vun ehrenhaften Raub allēin,
"Du, Bruder, schämst sich nit zu ganwenen,
"Zu bettlen un' zu chanfenen,
"Afile naschen is' far dir nit zu gemēin."
Dās sāgendig hāt er sein āngepelzten Eck
Mit Spott a Hōb gethān un' is' aweg.
* * * * *
Die alte Welt
Is vull mit tausende asölche Kāters,
Jachsonim puste, adelige Pimpernātters,
Mit Wonzes lange, bliszendige Äugen,
Ohn' Macht, ohn' Sinn, ohn' Geld,
Nefosches, welche täugen
Zum Klettern mit Pläner in der Hōch,
Vun welche jeder endigt sich in Räuch;
Wās lecken Teller bei dem Reichen
Un' mjauken sich mit sejersgleichen
Aristokratisch fein zusammen,
Un' Alles, wās see wēissen,
Is' mehr nit, wie see hēissen,
Un' dann, vun welche Tigerkätz' see stammen.
M. WINCHEVSKY.