A Hundred Fables of La Fontaine Part 18

At length G.o.d gives the owl a set of heirs, And while at early eve abroad he fares, In quest of birds and mice for food, Our eagle haply spies the brood, As on some craggy rock they sprawl, Or nestle in some ruined wall, (But which it matters not at all,) And thinks them ugly little frights, Grim, sad, with voice like shrieking sprites.

"These chicks," says he, "with looks almost infernal, Can't be the darlings of our friend nocturnal.

I'll sup of them." And so he did, not slightly:-- He never sups, if he can help it, lightly.

The owl return'd; and, sad, he found Nought left but claws upon the ground.

He pray'd the G.o.ds above and G.o.ds below To smite the brigand who had caused his woe.

Quoth one, "On you alone the blame must fall; Thinking your like the loveliest of all You told the eagle of your young ones' graces; You gave the picture of their faces:-- Had it of likeness any traces?"

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

The Miser and the Monkey.

A Man ama.s.s'd. The thing, we know, Doth often to a frenzy grow.

No thought had he but of his minted gold-- Stuff void of worth when unemploy'd, I hold.

Now, that this treasure might the safer be, Our miser's dwelling had the sea As guard on every side from every thief.

With pleasure, very small in my belief, But very great in his, he there Upon his h.o.a.rd bestow'd his care.

No respite came of everlasting Recounting, calculating, casting; For some mistake would always come To mar and spoil the total sum.

A monkey there, of goodly size,-- And than his lord, I think, more wise,-- Some doubloons from the window threw, And render'd thus the count untrue.

The padlock'd room permitted Its owner, when he quitted, To leave his money on the table.

One day, bethought this monkey wise To make the whole a sacrifice To Neptune on his throne unstable.

I could not well award the prize Between the monkey's and the miser's pleasure Derived from that devoted treasure.

One day, then, left alone, That animal, to mischief p.r.o.ne, Coin after coin detach'd, A gold jacobus s.n.a.t.c.h'd, Or Portuguese doubloon, Or silver ducatoon, Or n.o.ble, of the English rose, And flung with all his might Those discs, which oft excite The strongest wishes mortal ever knows.

Had he not heard, at last, The turning of his master's key, The money all had pa.s.s'd The same short road to sea; And not a single coin but had been pitch'd Into the gulf by many a wreck enrich'd.

_Now, G.o.d preserve full many a financier_ _Whose use of wealth may find its likeness here!_

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE MISER AND THE MONKEY.]

The Vultures and the Pigeons.

Mars once made havoc in the air: Some cause aroused a quarrel there Among the birds;--not those that sing, The courtiers of the merry Spring, But naughty hawk and vulture folks, Of hooked beak and talons keen.

The carca.s.s of a dog, 'tis said, Had to this civil carnage led.

Blood rain'd upon the swarded green, And valiant deeds were done, I ween.

Suffice to say, that chiefs were slain, And heroes strow'd the sanguine plain.

'Twas sport to see the battle rage, And valiant hawk with hawk engage; 'Twas pitiful to see them fall,-- Torn, bleeding, weltering, gasping, all.

Force, courage, cunning, all were plied; Intrepid troops on either side No effort spared to populate The dusky realms of hungry Fate.

This woful strife awoke compa.s.sion Within another feather'd nation, Of iris neck and tender heart.

They tried their hand at mediation-- To reconcile the foes, or part.

The pigeon people duly chose Amba.s.sadors, who work'd so well As soon the murderous rage to quell, And stanch the source of countless woes.

A truce took place, and peace ensued.

Alas! the people dearly paid Who such pacification made!

Those cursed hawks at once pursued The harmless pigeons, slew and ate, Till towns and fields were desolate.

_The safety of the rest requires_ _The bad should flesh each other's spears:_ _Whoever peace with them desires_ _Had better set them by the ears._

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE VULTURES AND THE PIGEONS.]

The Stag and the Vine.

A stag, by favour of a vine, Which grew where suns most genial shine, And form'd a thick and matted bower Which might have turn'd a summer shower, Was saved from ruinous a.s.sault.

The hunters thought their dogs at fault, And call'd them off. In danger now no more The stag, a thankless wretch and vile, Began to browse his benefactress o'er.

The hunters, listening the while, The rustling heard, came back, With all their yelping pack, And seized him in that very place.

"This is," said he, "but justice, in my case.

Let every black ingrate Henceforward profit by my fate."

The dogs fell to--'twere wasting breath To pray those hunters at the death.

They left, and we will not revile 'em A warning for profaners of asylum.

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE STAG AND THE VINE.]

The Earthen Pot and the Iron Pot.

An iron pot proposed To an earthen pot a journey.

The latter was opposed, Expressing the concern he Had felt about the danger Of going out a ranger.

He thought the kitchen hearth The safest place on earth For one so very brittle.

"For thee, who art a kettle, And hast a tougher skin, There's nought to keep thee in."

"I'll be thy body-guard,"

Replied the iron pot; "If anything that's hard Should threaten thee a jot, Between you I will go, And save thee from the blow."

This offer him persuaded.

The iron pot paraded Himself as guard and guide Close at his cousin's side.

Now, in their tripod way, They hobble as they may; And eke together bolt At every little jolt,-- Which gives the crockery pain; But presently his comrade hits So hard, he dashes him to bits, Before he can complain.

_Take care that you a.s.sociate_ _With equals only, lest your fate_ _Between these pots should find its mate._

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE EARTHEN POT AND THE IRON POT.]

The Bear and the Two Companions.

Two fellows, needing funds, and bold, A bearskin to a furrier sold, Of which the bear was living still, But which they presently would kill-- At least they said they would, And vow'd their word was good.

The bargain struck upon the skin, Two days at most must bring it in.

Forth went the two. More easy found than got, The bear came growling at them on the trot.

Behold our dealers both confounded, As if by thunderbolt astounded!