Aesop, in Rhyme Part 17

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THE SOT AND HIS WIFE.

Inveterate sin is seldom cur'd.

A wife had long a sot endur'd, Who all his time in taverns spent, While his affairs in ruin went.

Once as insensible he lay, She dress'd him in a corpse's array, And with the undertaker's aid, Into a burying vault convey'd.

The fumes dispersed, the man awakes; All for reality he takes.

When by the glimmering of a lamp He saw his mansion drear and damp, Reflecting how his life had pa.s.s'd, A forced repentance came at last.

The wife, with suited voice and dress, Presented an infernal mess: "Good Trap, pray take away your meat; I have no appet.i.te to eat,"

He cried, "but faith I'm devilish dry: Can't you a bowl of wine supply?"

The woman, seeing all was vain, Restor'd him to his casks again: Consol'd with certainty, that he Ere long a real corpse must be.

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THE FARMER AND HIS QUARRELSOME SONS.

Three sons an honest farmer had; And it so happen'd, ne'er a lad Could with the other two agree; All quarrelling perpetually.

Their time in idle contest spent, Garden and farm to ruin went; And the good farmer and his wife Led but a miserable life.

One day as this unhappy sire Sat musing by his evening fire, He saw some twigs in bundles stand, Tied for the basket-maker's hand.

Taking up one: "My boys," says he, "Which is the strongest, let me see; He who this bundle breaks in twain, The preference, and this prize shall gain,"

(Showing a pair of Sunday shoes.) The rivals every effort use In vain. Their utmost force when tried, The father took the twigs untied, And giving to them one by one, The work immediately was done.

"Yon twigs," he says, "that broken lie, This useful lesson may supply: That those in amity who live, And succor to each other give, Double their forces to resist Oppression, and their work a.s.sist."

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THE FIG TREE AND THE FLOWERING SHRUB.

Flowers which many leaves display, In fruitless beauty fade away.

Cries one of these, with saucy sneer, To a plain fig-tree growing near, "How comes it, honest friend, that thou Dost in the spring no blossoms show?"

Says he, "I keep them out of view, For fear I should resemble you, And in the autumn nought produce Of permanence and solid use."

Who soon and much essay to shine, May dread a premature decline.

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THE FARMER AND THE LANDLORD.

A farmer of an honest fame, One morning to his landlord came: "Alas, my lord," he weeping said, "Gored by my bull, your ox is dead.

What must be done?" "The case is plain,"

Replies the lord; "the creature slain, The owner of the bull must pay; Let it be done without delay."

"Heav'n give your worship long to live!

I hope you will a good one give, For mine was good!" "How! your's, my friend?

Let me your story comprehend: Your bull, you say, my ox has gored?"

"Forgive me the mistake, my lord, In my confusion I have made; Mine was the ox that must be paid; But 'tis all one--what's just for me The same must for your worship be: I'll tell the steward what you say."

"Not yet--we'll think of it to-day.

Further inquiry must be had; Perhaps your fences were but bad; Perhaps--but come again to-morrow."

The honest laborer saw with sorrow, That justice wears a different face, When for themselves men put the case.

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THE SCHOOL-BOY AND THE MONITOR.

At play on Thames's verdant side A school boy fell into the tide, Where providentially there stood A willow, bending o'er the flood.

Buoy'd on its branch, he floating lay, The monitor pa.s.s'd by that way.

The lad entreats his life to save: The Don replies with aspect grave, "Sirrah, what business had you there?

How vain is all our watchful care!

You never heed a word we say; Your disobedience you shall pay!"

"First," says the boy, "pray stretch your hand: I'll hear you when I come to land."

This is for those, with vain parade Who give advice, instead of aid.

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THE MILLER AND HIS a.s.s.

A rustic bringing to the fair An a.s.s, that he might show him there, Sleek and well looking let him trot; He followed with his son on foot.

The first they met upon the road, At our pedestrians laugh'd loud, "Look at those two legged a.s.ses," cried, "Who trudge on foot when they might ride!"

The father with the hint complies: Makes the boy mount. Now other cries a.s.sail their ears; by graybeards blam'd; "Sirrah, you ought to be asham'd To ride and let your father walk!"

Again he listened to their talk.