A Hundred Fables of La Fontaine Part 14

The Lioness and the Bear.

The lioness had lost her young; A hunter stole it from the vale; The forests and the mountains rung Responsive to her hideous wail.

Nor night, nor charms of sweet repose, Could still the loud lament that rose From that grim forest queen.

No animal, as you might think, With such a noise could sleep a wink.

A bear presumed to intervene.

"One word, sweet friend," quoth she, "And that is all, from me.

The young that through your teeth have pa.s.s'd, In file unbroken by a fast, Had they nor dam nor sire?"

"They had them both." "Then I desire, Since all their deaths caused no such grievous riot, While mothers died of grief beneath your fiat, To know why you yourself cannot be quiet?"

"I quiet!--I!--a wretch bereaved!

My only son!--such anguish be relieved!

No, never! All for me below Is but a life of tears and woe!"-- "But say, why doom yourself to sorrow so?"-- "Alas! 'tis Destiny that is my foe."

_Such language, since the mortal fall,_ _Has fallen from the lips of all._ _Ye human wretches, give your heed;_ _For your complaints there's little need._ _Let him who thinks his own the hardest case,_ _Some widowed, childless Hecuba behold,_ _Herself to toil and shame of slavery sold,_ _And he will own the wealth of heavenly grace._

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE LIONESS AND THE BEAR.]

The Mice and the Owl.

A pine was by a woodman fell'd, Which ancient, huge, and hollow tree An owl had for his palace held-- A bird the Fates had kept in fee, Interpreter to such as we.

Within the caverns of the pine, With other tenants of that mine, Were found full many footless mice, But well provision'd, fat, and nice.

The bird had bit off all their feet, And fed them there with heaps of wheat.

That this owl reason'd, who can doubt?

When to the chase he first went out, And home alive the vermin brought, Which in his talons he had caught, The nimble creatures ran away.

Next time, resolved to make them stay, He cropp'd their legs, and found, with pleasure, That he could eat them at his leisure; It were impossible to eat Them all at once, did health permit.

His foresight, equal to our own, In furnishing their food was shown.

Now, let Cartesians, if they can, p.r.o.nounce this owl a mere machine.

Could springs originate the plan Of maiming mice when taken lean, To fatten for his soup-tureen?

If reason did no service there, I do not know it anywhere.

Observe the course of argument: These vermin are no sooner caught than gone: They must be used as soon, 'tis evident; But this to all cannot be done.

Hence, while their ribs I lard, I must from their elopement guard.

But how?--A plan complete!-- I'll clip them of their feet!

Now, find me, in your human schools, A better use of logic's tools!

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE MICE AND THE OWL.]

The Cat and the Two Sparrows.

Contemporary with a sparrow tame There lived a cat; from tenderest age, Of both, the basket and the cage Had household G.o.ds the same.

The bird's sharp beak full oft provoked the cat, Who play'd in turn, but with a gentle pat, His wee friend sparing with a merry laugh, Not punishing his faults by half.

In short, he scrupled much the harm, Should he with points his ferule arm.

The Sparrow, less discreet than he, With dagger beak made very free.

Sir Cat, a person wise and staid, Excused the warmth with which he play'd: For 'tis full half of friendship's art To take no joke in serious part.

Familiar since they saw the light, Mere habit kept their friendship good; Fair play had never turn'd to fight, Till, of their neighbourhood, Another sparrow came to greet Old Ratto grave and Saucy Pete.

Between the birds a quarrel rose, And Ratto took his side.

"A pretty stranger, with such blows To beat our friend!" he cried.

"A neighbour's sparrow eating ours!

Not so, by all the feline powers."

And quick the stranger he devours.

"Now, truly," saith Sir Cat, "I know how sparrows taste by that.

Exquisite, tender, delicate!"

This thought soon seal'd the other's fate.-- But hence what moral can I bring?

For, lacking that important thing, A fable lacks its finishing: I seem to see of one some trace, But still its shadow mocks my chase.

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE CAT AND THE TWO SPARROWS.]

The Two Goats.

Two goats, who self-emanc.i.p.ated,-- The white that on their feet they wore Look'd back to n.o.ble blood of yore,-- Once quit the lowly meadows, sated, And sought the hills, as it would seem: In search of luck, by luck they met Each other at a mountain stream.

As bridge a narrow plank was set, On which, if truth must be confest, Two weasels scarce could go abreast.

And then the torrent, foaming white, As down it tumbled from the height, Might well those Amazons affright.

But maugre such a fearful rapid, Both took the bridge, the goats intrepid!

I seem to see our Louis Grand And Philip IV. advance To the Isle of Conference, That lies 'twixt Spain and France, Each st.u.r.dy for his glorious land.

Thus each of our adventurers goes, Till foot to foot, and nose to nose, Somewhere about the midst they meet, And neither will an inch retreat.

For why? they both enjoy'd the glory Of ancestors in ancient story.

The one, a goat of peerless rank, Which, browsing on Sicilian bank, The Cyclop gave to Galataea; The other famous Amalthaea, The goat that suckled Jupiter, As some historians aver.

For want of giving back, in troth, A common fall involved them both.-- A common accident, no doubt, On Fortune's changeful route.

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE TWO GOATS.]

The Old Cat and the Young Mouse.

A young and inexperienced mouse Had faith to try a veteran cat,-- Raminagrobis, death to rat, And scourge of vermin through the house,-- Appealing to his clemency With reasons sound and fair.

"Pray let me live; a mouse like me It were not much to spare.

Am I, in such a family, A burden? Would my largest wish Our wealthy host impoverish?

A grain of wheat will make my meal; A nut will fat me like a seal.

I'm lean at present; please to wait, And for your heirs reserve my fate."

The captive mouse thus spake.

Replied the captor, "You mistake; To me shall such a thing be said?

Address the deaf! address the dead!

A cat to pardon!--old one too!

Why, such a thing I never knew.