mutually promised to stand by each other in any danger they
should meet on the way. They had not gone far when a Bear came
rushing towards them out of a thicket; upon which, one, being a
light, nimble fellow, got up into a tree. The other, falling flat
upon his face, and holding his breath, lay still, while the Bear
came up and smelled at him; but that creature, supposing him to
be a dead carcass, went back to the wood without doing him the
least harm. When all was over, the man who had climbed the tree
came down to his companion, and, with a pleasant smile, asked
what the Bear had said to him; "For," says he, "I took notice
that he clapped his mouth very close to your ear." "Why," replied
the other, "he charged me to take care, for the future, not to
put any confidence in such cowardly rascals as you are."
MORAL.
Nothing is more common than to hear people profess friendship
when there is no occasion for it; but he is a true friend who is
ready to assist us in the time of danger and difficulty. Choose,
therefore, friends whom you can depend on for such a time, and
greatly value them.
FABLE XXXVII.
THE DOG AND THE SHADOW.
A DOG, crossing a small rivulet, with a piece of flesh in his
mouth, which he had stolen from a butcher's shop, saw his own
shadow represented in the clear mirror of the limpid stream; and,
believing it to be another dog who was carrying another piece of
flesh, he could not forbear catching at it, but was so far from
getting anything by his greedy design, that he dropped the piece
he had in his mouth, which immediately sank to the bottom, and
was irrecoverably lost.
MORAL.
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.
[Illustration: THE DOG AND THE SHADOW.]
FABLE XXXVIII.
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 shaggy, 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 passion.
Where sexes are of different kind;
And oft 'twill ties of friendship 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 assistance,
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 XXXIX.
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.
[Illustration: 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.
MORAL.
He that, to secure an advantage, deceives his friend by an
untruth, will surely suffer for it when he is detected.
FABLE XLII.
THE BROTHER AND SISTER.
A CERTAIN Man had two children, a Son and a Daughter--the Boy
handsome enough, the Girl not quite so comely. They were both
very young, and happened one day to be playing near the
looking-glass, which stood on their mother's toilet. The Boy,
pleased with the novelty of the thing, viewed himself for some
time, and in a wanton, roguish manner observed to the Girl how
handsome he was. She resented the insult, and ran immediately to
her father, and, with a great deal of aggravation, complained of
her brother, particularly for having acted so effeminate a part
as to look in a glass, and meddle with things which belong to
women only. The father, embracing them both with much tenderness
and affection, told them that he should like to have them both
look in the glass every day; "To the intent that you," says he to
the Boy, "if you think that face of yours handsome, may not
disgrace and spoil it by an ugly temper and a bad behaviour; and
that you," added he, addressing the Girl, "may make up for the
defects of your person by the sweetness of your manners and the
excellence of your understanding."
MORAL.
A well-informed mind is better than a handsome person.
FABLE XLIII.
THE SHEPHERD'S DOG AND THE WOLF.
A WOLF, with hunger fierce and bold,
Ravaged the plains, and thinned the fold;
Deep in the wood secure he lay,
The thefts of night regaled the day.
In vain the shepherd's wakeful care
Had spread the toils, and watched the snare;
In vain the Dog pursued his pace,
The fleeter robber mocked the chase.
As Lightfoot ranged the forest round,
By chance his foe's retreat he found:
"Let us awhile the war suspend,
And reason as from friend to friend."
"A truce!" replies the Wolf. 'Tis done.
The Dog the parley thus begun:--
"How can that strong, intrepid mind
Attack a weak, defenceless kind?
Those jaws should prey on nobler food,
And drink the boar's and lion's blood;
Great souls with generous pity melt,
Which coward tyrants never felt.
How harmless is our fleecy care!
Be brave, and let thy mercy spare."
"Friend," says the Wolf, "the matter weigh:
Nature designed us beasts of prey;
As such, when hunger finds a treat,
'Tis necessary Wolves should eat.
If, mindful of the bleating weal,
Thy bosom burn with real zeal,
Hence, and thy tyrant lord beseech;
To him repeat the moving speech.
A Wolf eats sheep but now and then;
Ten thousands are devoured by men."
MORAL.
An open foe may prove a curse,
But a pretended friend is worse.
FABLE XLIV.
THE COVETOUS MAN.
A POOR covetous wretch, who had scraped together a good parcel of
money, went and dug a hole in one of his fields and hid it. The
great pleasure of his life was to go and look upon this treasure
once a day at least; which one of his servants observing, and
guessing there was something more than ordinary in the place,
came at night, found it, and carried it off. The next day,
returning as usual to the scene of his delight, and perceiving it
had been stolen away from him, he tore his hair for grief, and
uttered the doleful complaints of his despair to the woods and
meadows. At last, a neighbour of his, who knew his temper,
overhearing him, and being informed of the occasion of his
sorrow, "Cheer up, man!" says he, "thou has lost nothing; there
is the hole for thee to go and peep at still; and if thou canst
but fancy thy money there, it will do just as well."
MORAL.
Money, well used, has its full value; but when allowed to lie
useless to others or to one's self, it possesses no more value
than a heap of oyster shells. Avarice is, therefore, a silly as
well as a sinful vice. Use your wealth in doing good, and its
highest value will be attained.
FABLE XLV.
THE HARE AND THE TORTOISE.
A HARE twitted a Tortoise on account of his slowness, and vainly
boasted of her own great speed in running. "Let us make a match,"
replied the Tortoise: "I'll run with you five miles for five
pounds, and the Fox yonder shall be the umpire of the race." The
Hare agreed, and away they both started together. But the Hare,
by reason of her exceeding swiftness, outran the Tortoise to such
a degree that she made a jest of the matter, and, finding herself
a little tired, squatted in a tuft of fern that grew by the way,
and took a nap, thinking that, if the Tortoise went by, she could
at any time catch him up with all the ease imaginable. In the
meanwhile the Tortoise came jogging on, with a slow but continued
motion; and the Hare, out of a too great security and confidence
of victory, oversleeping herself, the Tortoise arrived at the end
of the race first.
MORAL.
Industry and application will, in most cases, do more than quick
and ready wit. The highest genius, without industry, will
generally fail of any great exploit.
[Illustration: THE HARE AND THE TORTOISE.]
FABLE XLVI.
THE HOG AND THE ACORNS.
ONE moonshiny night,
With a great appetite,
A Hog feasted on Acorns with all his might:
Quite pleased with his prize
Both in taste and in size,
While he ate he devoured the rest with his eyes.
You know, I'm in joke,
When I say that the oak,
Moved a _bough_ to the grunter before she spoke;
But you know, too, in fable,
We feel ourselves able
To make anything speak--tree, flower, or table.
Said the Oak, looking big,
"I think, Mr. Pig,
You might thank me for sending you fruit from my twig;
But, you ill-behaved Hog!
You devour the prog,
And have no better manners, I think, than a dog."
He replied, looking up,
Though not ceasing to sup,
Till the Acorns were eaten--ay, every cup--
"I acknowledge, to you
My thanks would be due,
If from feelings of kindness my supper you threw.
"To-morrow, good dame,
Give my children the same,
And then you, with justice, may gratitude claim."
MORAL.
He merits no praise
To the end of his days,
Who to those who surround him no service conveys.
FABLE XLVII.
THE COUNTRY MOUSE AND THE CITY MOUSE.
An honest, plain, sensible country Mouse is said to have
entertained at his hole one day a fine Mouse of the town. Having
formerly been playfellows together, they were old acquaintances,
which served as an apology for the visit. However, as master of
the house, he thought himself obliged to do the honours of it, in
all respects, and to make as great a stranger of his guest as he
possibly could. In order to this, he set before him a reserve of
delicate grey pease and bacon, a dish of fine oatmeal, some
parings of new cheese, and, to crown all with a dessert, a
remnant of a charming mellow apple.
In good manners, he forebore to eat any of it himself, lest the
stranger should not have enough; but, that he might seem to bear
the other company, sat and nibbled a piece of wheaten straw very
busily. At last, says the spark of the town, "Old croney, give me
leave to be a little free with you. How can you bear to live in
this nasty, dirty, melancholy hole here, with nothing but woods
and meadows, mountains and rivulets about you? Do you not prefer
the busy world to the chirping of birds, and the splendour of a
court to the rude aspect of an uncultivated desert? Come, take my
word for it, you will find it a change for the better. Stand not
considering, but away this moment. Remember, we are not immortal,
and therefore have no time to lose. Make sure of to-day, and
spend it as agreeably as you can; you know not what may happen
to-morrow."
In short, these and such like arguments prevailed, and his country
friend was resolved to go to town that night. So they both set out
upon their journey, proposing to sneak in after the close of the
evening. They did so, and about midnight made their entry into a
certain great house, where there had been an extraordinary
entertainment the day before, and several tit-bits, which some of
the servants had purloined, were hid under a seat of a window. The
country guest was immediately placed in the midst of a rich Persian
carpet; and now it was the courtier's turn to entertain, who,
indeed, acquitted himself in that capacity with the utmost readiness
and address, changing the courses as elegantly, and tasting
everything first as judiciously, as any clerk of the kitchen. The
other sat and enjoyed himself like a delighted epicure, tickled to
the last degree with this new turn of his affairs; when, on a
sudden, a noise of somebody opening the door made them start from
their seats and scuttle in confusion about the dining-room. Our
country friend, in particular, was ready to die with fear at the
barking of a huge Mastiff or two, which opened their throats just
about the same time, and made the whole house echo.
At last, recovering himself, "Well," says he, "if this be your
town life, much good may you do with it; give me my poor, quiet
hole again, with my homely but comfortable grey pease."
MORAL.
Poverty and safety are preferable to luxury and danger.
FABLE XLVIII.
THE CAT AND THE MICE.
A CERTAIN house was much infested with Mice; but at last they got
a Cat, who caught and ate every day some of them. The Mice,
finding their numbers grow thin, consulted what was best to be
done for the preservation of the public from the jaws of the
devouring Cat. They debated and came to this resolution, that no
one should go down below the upper shelf.
The Cat, observing the Mice no longer came down as usual, hungry and
disappointed of her prey, had recourse to this stratagem:--She hung
by her hind legs on a peg which stuck in the wall, and made as if
she had been dead, hoping by this lure to entice the Mice to come
down. She had not been in this posture long before a cunning old
Mouse peeped over the edge of the shelf, and spoke thus:--"Ha! ha!
my good friend, are you there? There you may be! I would not trust
myself with you, though your skin were stuffed with straw."
MORAL.
They that are wise will never trust those a second time who have
deceived them once.
FABLE XLIX.
THE KID AND THE WOLF.
A KID, being mounted upon the roof of a lofty shed, and seeing a
Wolf below, loaded him with all manner of reproaches. Upon which,
the Wolf, looking up, replied, "Do not vaunt yourself, vain
creature, and think you mortify me; for I look upon this ill
language as not coming from you, but from the place that protects
you."
MORAL.
To rail or give bad language is wrong at all times; but when a
man is protected by circumstances, it is cowardly, as well as
wrong. The man who then uses it becomes a fit object of contempt
to him that he reviles.
[Illustration: THE KID AND THE WOLF.]
FABLE L.
THE COUNCIL OF HORSES.
UPON a time, a neighing Steed,
Who grazed among a numerous breed,
With mutiny had fired the train,
And spread dissension through the plain.
On matters that concerned the state
The council met in grand debate.
A Colt, whose eye-balls flamed with ire,
Elate with strength and youthful fire,
In haste stepped forth before the rest,
And thus the listening throng addressed:--
"Good gods! how abject is our race!
Condemned to slavery and disgrace!
Shall we our servitude retain,
Because our sires have borne the chain?
Consider, friends, your strength and might;
'Tis conquest to assert your right.
How cumberous is the gilded coach!
The pride of man is our reproach.
Were we designed for daily toil,
To drag the ploughshare through the soil;
To sweat in harness through the road;
To groan beneath the carrier's load?
How feeble are the two-legged kind!
What force is in our nerves combined!
Shall, then, our nobler jaws submit
To foam and champ the galling bit?
Shall haughty men my back bestride?
Shall the sharp spur provoke my side?
Forbid it, heavens! reject the rein,
Your shame, your infamy disdain.
Let him the Lion first control,
And still the Tiger's famished growl!
Let us, like them, our freedom claim;
And make him tremble at our name."
A general nod approved the cause,
And all the circle neighed applause;
When, lo! with grave and solemn pace,
A Steed advanced before the race,
With age and long experience wise;
Around he casts his thoughtful eyes,
And, to the murmurs of the train,
Thus spoke the Nestor of the plain:--
"When I had health and strength, like you,
The toils of servitude I knew.
Now, grateful man rewards my pains,
And gives me all these wide domains.
At will I crop the year's increase;
My latter life is rest and peace.
I grant, to man we lend our pains,
And aid him to correct the plains.
But doth not he divide the care,
Through all the labours of the year?
How many thousand structures rise,
To fence us from inclement skies!
For us he bears the sultry day,
And stores up all our winter's hay.
He sows, he reaps the harvest gain;
We share the toil, and share the grain."
The tumult ceased. The Colt submitted;
And, like his ancestors, was bitted.
MORAL.
Since every creature is decreed
To aid each other's mutual need;
Submit with a contented mind
To act the part by heaven assigned.
FABLE LI.
THE ASS AND THE LITTLE DOG.
The Ass, observing how great a favourite a little Dog was with
his master, how much caressed, and fondled, and fed with good
bits at every meal, and for no other reason, as he could
perceive, but skipping and frisking about, wagging his tail, and
leaping up in his master's lap, was resolved to imitate the same,
and see whether such behaviour would not procure him the same
favours. Accordingly, the master was no sooner come home from
walking about his fields and gardens, and was seated in his easy
chair, than the Ass, who observed him, came gamboling and braying
towards him, in a very awkward manner. The master could not help
laughing aloud at the odd sight. But the jest soon became
earnest, when he felt the rough salute of the fore-feet, as the
Ass, raising himself upon his hinder legs, pawed against his
breast with a most loving air, and would fain have jumped into
his lap. The good man, terrified at this outrageous conduct, and
unable to endure the weight of so heavy a beast, cried out; upon
which one of his servants, running in with a good stick, and
laying heartily upon the bones of the poor Ass, soon convinced
him that everyone who desires it is not qualified to be a
favourite.
MORAL.
All men have not the same gifts of pleasing. It will be well,
therefore, to keep in our own place; and, in that condition of
life, to do our duty. By which we shall be most likely to give
satisfaction.
FABLE LII.
THE LION AND THE FOUR BULLS.
Four Bulls, which had entered into a very strict friendship, kept
always near one another, and fed together. The Lion often saw
them, and as often wished to make one of them his prey; but
though he could easily have subdued any of them singly, yet he
was afraid to attack the whole when together, knowing they would
have been too hard for him; and, therefore, contented himself for
the present with keeping at a distance. At last, perceiving no
attempt was to be made upon them as long as their combination
lasted, he took occasion, by whispers and hints, to foment
jealousies and raise divisions among them.
This stratagem succeeded so well, that the Bulls grew cold and
reserved towards one another, which soon after ripened into a
downright hatred and aversion, and, at last, ended in a total
separation. The Lion had now obtained his ends; and, as
impossible as it was for him to hurt them while they were united,
he found no difficulty, now they were parted, to seize and devour
every Bull of them, one after another.
MORAL.
Union is strength. Jealousy and envy, especially when fomented by
whisperers, will destroy gradually the ties that make us safe
against enemies.
FABLE LIII.
THE LEOPARD AND THE FOX.
The Leopard one day took it into his head to value himself upon
the great variety and beauty of his spots; and, truly, he saw no
reason why even the lion should take place of him, since he could
not show so beautiful a skin. As for the rest of the wild beasts
of the forests, he treated them all, without distinction, in the
most haughty and disdainful manner. But the Fox, being among
them, went up to him with a great deal of spirit and resolution,
and told him that he was mistaken in the value he was pleased to
set upon himself, since people of judgment were not used to form
their opinion of merit from an outside appearance, but by
considering the good qualities and endowments with which the mind
was stored within.
MORAL.
Haughty beauty is an ungraceful thing. True beauty is always
found in a setting of modesty, and then only appears the bright
jewel that it is.
[Illustration: THE LEOPARD AND THE FOX.]
FABLE LIV.
THE WARRIOR WOLF.