[Illustration: THE STAG AND THE FAWN.]
A Stag, grown old and mischievous, was, according to custom, stamping
with his foot, making offers with his head, and bellowing so terribly,
that the whole herd quaked for fear of him: when one of the little Fawns
coming up, addressed him to this purpose--'Pray, what is the reason that
you, who are so stout and formidable at all other times, if you do but
hear the cry of the hounds, are ready to fly out of your skin for
fear?'--'What you observe is true,' replied the Stag, 'though I know not
how to account for it: I am indeed vigorous, and able enough, I think,
to make my party good any where, and often resolve with myself, that
nothing shall ever dismay my courage for the future; but, alas! I no
sooner hear the voice of a hound but all my spirits fail me, and I
cannot help making off as fast as ever my legs can carry me.'