A Hundred Fables of La Fontaine Part 15

Thou victim of my paw, By well-establish'd law, Die as a mousling should, And beg the sisterhood Who ply the thread and shears, To lend thy speech their ears.

Some other like repast My heirs may find, or fast."

He ceased. The moral's plain.

_Youth always hopes its ends to gain,_ _Believes all spirits like its own:_ _Old age is not to mercy p.r.o.ne._

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE OLD CAT AND THE YOUNG MOUSE.]

The Sick Stag

A stag, where stags abounded, Fell sick and was surrounded Forthwith by comrades kind, All pressing to a.s.sist, Or see, their friend, at least, And ease his anxious mind-- An irksome mult.i.tude.

"Ah, sirs!" the sick was fain to cry, "Pray leave me here to die, As others do, in solitude.

Pray, let your kind attentions cease, Till death my spirit shall release."

But comforters are not so sent: On duty sad full long intent, When Heaven pleased, they went: But not without a friendly gla.s.s; That is to say, they cropp'd the gra.s.s And leaves which in that quarter grew, From which the sick his pittance drew.

By kindness thus compell'd to fast, He died for want of food at last.

_The men take off no trifling dole_ _Who heal the body, or the soul._ _Alas the times! do what we will,_ _They have their payment, cure or kill._

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE SICK STAG.]

The Quarrel of the Dogs and Cats.

In mansion deck'd with frieze and column, Dwelt dogs and cats in mult.i.tudes; Decrees, promulged in manner solemn, Had pacified their ancient feuds.

Their lord had so arranged their meals and labours, And threaten'd quarrels with the whip, That, living in sweet cousinship, They edified their wondering neighbours.

At last, some dainty plate to lick, Or profitable bone to pick, Bestow'd by some partiality, Broke up the smooth equality.

The side neglected were indignant At such a slight malignant.

From words to blows the altercation Soon grew a perfect conflagration.

In hall and kitchen, dog and cat Took sides with zeal for this or that.

New rules upon the cat side falling Produced tremendous caterwauling.

Their advocate, against such rules as these, Advised recurrence to the old decrees.

They search'd in vain, for, hidden in a nook, The thievish mice had eaten up the book.

Another quarrel, in a trice, Made many sufferers with the mice; For many a veteran whisker'd-face, With craft and cunning richly stored, And grudges old against the race, Now watch'd to put them to the sword; Nor mourn'd for this that mansion's lord.

_Look wheresoever we will, we see_ _No creature from opponents free._ _'Tis nature's law for earth and sky;_ _'Twere vain to ask the reason why:_ _G.o.d's works are good,--I cannot doubt it,--_ _And that is all I know about it._

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE QUARREL OF THE DOGS AND CATS.]

The Wolf and the Fox.

"Dear wolf," complain'd a hungry fox, "A lean chick's meat, or veteran c.o.c.k's, Is all I get by toil or trick: Of such a living I am sick.

With far less risk, you've better cheer; A house you need not venture near, But I must do it, spite of fear.

Pray, make me master of your trade.

And let me by that means be made The first of all my race that took Fat mutton to his larder's hook: Your kindness shall not be repented."

The wolf quite readily consented.

"I have a brother, lately dead: Go fit his skin to yours," he said.

'Twas done; and then the wolf proceeded: "Now mark you well what must be done, The dogs that guard the flock to shun."

The fox the lessons strictly heeded.

At first he boggled in his dress; But awkwardness grew less and less, Till perseverance gave success.

His education scarce complete, A flock, his scholarship to greet, Came rambling out that way.

The new-made wolf his work began, Amidst the heedless nibblers ran, And spread a sore dismay.

The bleating host now surely thought That fifty wolves were on the spot: Dog, shepherd, sheep, all homeward fled, And left a single sheep in p.a.w.n, Which Renard seized when they were gone.

But, ere upon his prize he fed, There crow'd a c.o.c.k near by, and down The scholar threw his prey and gown, That he might run that way the faster-- Forgetting lessons, prize and master.

_Reality, in every station,_ _Will burst out on the first occasion._

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE WOLF AND THE FOX.]

The Lobster and her Daughter.

The wise, sometimes, as lobsters do, To gain their ends back foremost go.

It is the rower's art; and those Commanders who mislead their foes, Do often seem to aim their sight Just where they don't intend to smite.

My theme, so low, may yet apply To one whose fame is very high, Who finds it not the hardest matter A hundred-headed league to scatter.

What he will do, what leave undone, Are secrets with unbroken seals, Till victory the truth reveals.

Whatever he would have unknown Is sought in vain. Decrees of Fate Forbid to check, at first, the course Which sweeps at last the torrent force.

One Jove, as ancient fables state, Exceeds a hundred G.o.ds in weight.

So Fate and Louis would seem able The universe to draw, Bound captive to their law.-- But come we to our fable.

A mother lobster did her daughter chide: "For shame, my daughter! can't you go ahead?"

"And how go you yourself?" the child replied; "Can I be but by your example led?

Head foremost should I, singularly, wend, While all my race pursue the other end."

She spoke with sense: for better or for worse, Example has a universal force.

To some it opens wisdom's door, But leads to folly many more.

Yet, as for backing to one's aim, When properly pursued The art is doubtless good, At least in grim Bellona's game.

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE LOBSTER AND HER DAUGHTER.]

The Ploughman and his Sons.

_The farmer's patient care and toil Are oftener wanting than the soil._

A wealthy ploughman drawing near his end, Call'd in his sons apart from every friend, And said, "When of your sire bereft, The heritage our fathers left Guard well, nor sell a single field.