Aesop, in Rhyme Part 6

'Twas nearly twelve months after this, The lion chanced his way to miss; When pressing forward: heedless yet, He got entangled in a net.

With dreadful rage he stamp'd and tore, And straight commenced a lordly roar; When the poor mouse who heard the noise, Attended, for she knew his voice.

Then what the lion's utmost strength Could not effect, she did at length: With patient labor she applied Her teeth, the net-work to divide; And so at last forth issued he, A _lion_, by a mouse set free.

MORAL.

Few are so small or weak, I guess, But may a.s.sist us in distress; Nor shall we ever, if we're wise, The meanest, or the least, despise.

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THE JEALOUS a.s.s.

"There lived," says friend Esop, "some ages ago, An a.s.s who had feelings acute, you must know; This a.s.s to be jealous, felt strongly inclined, And for reasons which follow, felt hurt in his mind."

It seems that his master, as I understand, Had a favorite dog which he fed from his hand.

Nay, the dog was permitted to jump on his knee: An honor that vex'd our poor donkey to see.

"Now," thought he, "what's the reason, I cannot see any, That I have no favors, while he has so many?

If all this is got by just wagging his tail, Why _I_ have got one, which I'll wag without fail."

So the donkey resolved to try what he could do And, determined unusual attentions to show, When his master was dining, came into the room.

"Good sir!" said his friends, "why your donkey is come!"

"Indeed!" said their host, great astonishment showing, When he saw the a.s.s come, while his tail was a-going; But who can describe his dismay or fear, When the donkey rear'd up, and bray'd loud in his ear!

"You rascal get down,--John, Edward, or d.i.c.k!

Where are you? make haste, and come here with a stick."

The man roared--the guests laugh'd--the dog bark'd--the bell rung: Coals, poker, and tongs, at the donkey were flung,

Till the blows and the kicks, with combined demonstration, Convinced him that this was a bad speculation; So, mortified deeply, his footsteps retrod he, Hurt much in his mind, but still more in his body.

MORAL.

So some silly children, as stupid as may be, Will cry for indulgences fit for a baby.

Had they enter'd the room while the donkey withdrew, They'd have seen their own folly and punishment too: Let them think of this fable, and what came to pa.s.s; Nor forget, he who play'd this fine game was _an a.s.s_.

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THE TOWN AND COUNTRY MICE.

A plain, but honest, country mouse, Residing in a miller's house; Once, on a time, invited down An old acquaintance of the town: And soon he brought his dainties out; The best he had there's not a doubt.

A dish of oatmeal and green peas, With half a candle, and some cheese; Some beans, and if I'm not mistaken, A charming piece of Yorkshire bacon.

And then to show he was expert In such affairs, a fine dessert Was next produced, all which he press'd, With rustic freedom, on his guest.

But he, the city epicure, This homely fare could not endure Indeed he scarcely broke his fast By what he took, but said, at last, "Old crony, now, I'll tell you what: I don't admire this lonely spot; This dreadful, dismal, dirty hole, Seems more adapted for a mole Than 'tis for you; Oh! could you see _My_ residence, how charm'd you'd be.

Instead of bringing up your brood In wind, and wet, and solitude, Come bring them all at once to town, We'll make a courtier of a clown.

I think that, for your children's sake, 'Tis proper my advice to take."

"Well," said his host, "I can but try, And so poor quiet hole good bye!"

Then off they jogg'd for many a mile, Talking of splendid things the while; At last, in town, they all arrived-- Found where the city mouse had lived-- Entered at midnight through a crack, And rested from their tedious track.

"Now," said the city mouse, "I'll show What kind of fare I've brought you to:"

On which he led the rustic mice Into a larder, snug and nice, Where ev'ry thing a mouse could relish, Did ev'ry shelf and nook embellish.

"Now is not this to be preferr'd To your green peas?" "Upon my word, It is," the country mouse replied, "All this must needs the point decide."

Scarce had they spoke these words, when, lo!

A tribe of servants hasten'd through, And also two gigantic cats, Who spied our country mouse and brats.

Then, by a timely exit, she Just saved herself and family.

"Oh, ask me not," said she in haste, "Your tempting dainties more to taste; I much prefer my homely peas, To splendid dangers such as these."

MORAL.

Then let not those begin to grumble, Whose lot is safe, though poor and humble; Nor envy him who better fares, But for each good, has twenty cares.

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THE FOX AND THE CROW.

Crows feed upon worms: yet an author affirms Cheshire cheese they will get if they're able; "For," said he, "I well know, one unprincipled crow Once purloined a large piece from my table."

Then away darted she, to the shade of a tree, To deposit the booty within her; But it never occurr'd to the mind of the bird, That a _fox_ was to have it for dinner.

"How many a slip, 'twixt the cup and the lip!"

(Excuse me, I pray, the digression,) Said a fox to himself, "I can share in the pelf, If I act with my usual discretion."

So said he, "Is it you? pray, ma'am, how do you do, I have long wish'd to pay you a visit; For a twelvemonth has pa.s.s'd, since I heard of you last Which is not very neighborly, is it?