A fat cow who saw herself detected by an approaching horse while
perpetrating stiff and ungainly gambols in the spring sunshine,
suddenly assumed a severe gravity of gait, and a sedate solemnity of
expression that would have been creditable to a Brahmin.
"Fine morning!" said the horse, who, fired by her example, was
curvetting lithely and tossing his head.
"That rather uninteresting fact," replied the cow, attending strictly
to her business as a ruminant, "does not impress me as justifying your
execution of all manner of unseemly contortions, as a preliminary to
accosting an entire stranger."
"Well, n--no," stammered the horse; "I--I suppose not. Fact is
I--I--no offence, I hope."
And the unhappy charger walked soberly away, dazed by the
preternatural effrontery of that placid cow.
When overcome by the dignity of any one you chance to meet, try to
have this fable about you.