Fables of La Fontaine Part 12

Nor fork[27] nor strap can mend its manners, Nor cudgel-blows beat down its banners.

Secure the doors against the renter, And through the windows it will enter.

[26] Aesop.

[27] Naturam expellas furca, tamen usque recurret.--Hor. Epist. Bk. I.

10.--Translator.

XIX.--THE LION AND THE a.s.s HUNTING.[28]

The king of animals, with royal grace, Would celebrate his birthday in the chase.

'Twas not with bow and arrows, To slay some wretched sparrows; The lion hunts the wild boar of the wood, The antlered deer and stags, the fat and good.

This time, the king, t' insure success, Took for his aide-de-camp an a.s.s, A creature of stentorian voice, That felt much honour'd by the choice.

The lion hid him in a proper station, And order'd him to bray, for his vocation, a.s.sured that his tempestuous cry The boldest beasts would terrify, And cause them from their lairs to fly.

And, sooth, the horrid noise the creature made Did strike the tenants of the wood with dread; And, as they headlong fled, All fell within the lion's ambuscade.

'Has not my service glorious Made both of us victorious?'

Cried out the much-elated a.s.s.

'Yes,' said the lion; 'bravely bray'd!

Had I not known yourself and race, I should have been myself afraid!'

If he had dared, the donkey Had shown himself right s.p.u.n.ky At this retort, though justly made; For who could suffer boasts to pa.s.s So ill-befitting to an a.s.s?

[28] Phaedrus, I. 11: Aesop.

XX.--THE WILL EXPLAINED BY AESOP.[29]

If what old story says of Aesop's true, The oracle of Greece he was, And more than Areopagus[30] he knew, With all its wisdom in the laws.

The following tale gives but a sample Of what has made his fame so ample.

Three daughters shared a father's purse, Of habits totally diverse.

The first, bewitched with drinks delicious; The next, coquettish and capricious; The third, supremely avaricious.

The sire, expectant of his fate, Bequeathed his whole estate, In equal shares, to them, And to their mother just the same,-- To her then payable, and not before, Each daughter should possess her part no more.

The father died. The females three Were much in haste the will to see.

They read, and read, but still Saw not the willer's will.

For could it well be understood That each of this sweet sisterhood, When she possess'd her part no more, Should to her mother pay it o'er?

'Twas surely not so easy saying How lack of means would help the paying.

What meant their honour'd father, then?

Th' affair was brought to legal men, Who, after turning o'er the case Some hundred thousand different ways, Threw down the learned bonnet, Unable to decide upon it; And then advised the heirs, Without more thought, t' adjust affairs.

As to the widow's share, the counsel say, 'We hold it just the daughters each should pay One third to her upon demand, Should she not choose to have it stand Commuted as a life annuity, Paid from her husband's death, with due congruity.'

The thing thus order'd, the estate Is duly cut in portions three.

And in the first they all agree To put the feasting-lodges, plate, Luxurious cooling mugs, Enormous liquor jugs, Rich cupboards,--built beneath the trellised vine,-- The stores of ancient, sweet Malvoisian wine, The slaves to serve it at a sign; In short, whatever, in a great house, There is of feasting apparatus.

The second part is made Of what might help the jilting trade-- The city house and furniture, Exquisite and genteel, be sure, The eunuchs, milliners, and laces, The jewels, shawls, and costly dresses.

The third is made of household stuff, More vulgar, rude, and rough-- Farms, fences, flocks, and fodder, And men and beasts to turn the sod o'er.

This done, since it was thought To give the parts by lot Might suit, or it might not, Each paid her share of fees dear, And took the part that pleased her.

'Twas in great Athens town, Such judgment gave the gown.

And there the public voice Applauded both the judgment and the choice.

But Aesop well was satisfied The learned men had set aside, In judging thus the testament, The very gist of its intent.

'The dead,' quoth he, 'could he but know of it, Would heap reproaches on such Attic wit.

What! men who proudly take their place As sages of the human race, Lack they the simple skill To settle such a will?'

This said, he undertook himself The task of portioning the pelf; And straightway gave each maid the part The least according to her heart-- The prim coquette, the drinking stuff, The drinker, then, the farms and cattle; And on the miser, rude and rough, The robes and lace did Aesop settle; For thus, he said, 'an early date Would see the sisters alienate Their several shares of the estate.

No motive now in maidenhood to tarry, They all would seek, post haste, to marry; And, having each a splendid bait, Each soon would find a well-bred mate; And, leaving thus their father's goods intact, Would to their mother pay them all, in fact,'-- Which of the testament Was plainly the intent.

The people, who had thought a slave an a.s.s, Much wonder'd how it came to pa.s.s That one alone should have more sense Than all their men of most pretence.

[29] Phaedrus, IV. 5.

[30] _Areopagus._--This was the Athenian Court of Justice at Mars Hill.

It is said to have been called _Areiopagos_ (the Hill of Mars) because, according to tradition, the first trial there was that of Mars for the murder of Halirrhotius.

BOOK III.

I.--THE MILLER, HIS SON, AND THE a.s.s [1]

To M. De Maucroix.[2]

Because the arts are plainly birthright matters, For fables we to ancient Greece are debtors; But still this field could not be reap'd so clean As not to let us, later comers, glean.

The fiction-world hath deserts yet to dare, And, daily, authors make discoveries there.

I'd fain repeat one which our man of song, Old Malherbe, told one day to young Racan.[3]

Of Horace they the rivals and the heirs, Apollo's pets,--my masters, I should say,-- Sole by themselves were met, I'm told, one day, Confiding each to each their thoughts and cares.

Racan begins:--'Pray end my inward strife, For well you know, my friend, what's what in life, Who through its varied course, from stage to stage, Have stored the full experience of age; What shall I do? 'Tis time I chose profession.

You know my fortune, birth, and disposition.

Ought I to make the country my resort, Or seek the army, or to rise at court?

There's nought but mixeth bitterness with charms; War hath its pleasures; hymen, its alarms.

'Twere nothing hard to take my natural bent,-- But I've a world of people to content.'

'Content a world!' old Malherbe cries; 'who can, sir?

Why, let me tell a story ere I answer.'

'A miller and his son, I've somewhere read, The first in years, the other but a lad,-- A fine, smart boy, however, I should say,-- To sell their a.s.s went to a fair one day.

In order there to get the highest price, They needs must keep their donkey fresh and nice; So, tying fast his feet, they swung him clear, And bore him hanging like a chandelier.

Alas! poor, simple-minded country fellows!

The first that sees their load, loud laughing, bellows, "What farce is this to split good people's sides?

The most an a.s.s is not the one that rides!"

The miller, much enlighten'd by this talk, Untied his precious beast, and made him walk.

The a.s.s, who liked the other mode of travel, Bray'd some complaint at trudging on the gravel; Whereat, not understanding well the beast, The miller caused his hopeful son to ride, And walk'd behind, without a spark of pride.

Three merchants pa.s.s'd, and, mightily displeased, The eldest of these gentlemen cried out, "Ho there! dismount, for shame, you lubber lout!

Nor make a foot-boy of your grey-beard sire; Change places, as the rights of age require."

"To please you, sirs," the miller said, "I ought."

So down the young and up the old man got.

Three girls next pa.s.sing, "What a shame!" says one, "That boy should be obliged on foot to run, While that old chap, upon his a.s.s astride, Should play the calf, and like a bishop ride!"

"Please save your wit," the miller made reply, "Tough veal, my girls, the calf as old as I."

But joke on joke repeated changed his mind; So up he took, at last, his son behind.

Not thirty yards ahead, another set Found fault. "The biggest fools I ever met,"

Says one of them, "such burdens to impose.

The a.s.s is faint, and dying with their blows.