Favourite Fables in Prose and Verse Part 8

MORAL.

He that, to secure an advantage, deceives his friend by an untruth, will surely suffer for it when he is detected.

FABLE XLII.

THE BROTHER AND SISTER.

A CERTAIN Man had two children, a Son and a Daughter--the Boy handsome enough, the Girl not quite so comely. They were both very young, and happened one day to be playing near the looking-gla.s.s, which stood on their mother's toilet. The Boy, pleased with the novelty of the thing, viewed himself for some time, and in a wanton, roguish manner observed to the Girl how handsome he was. She resented the insult, and ran immediately to her father, and, with a great deal of aggravation, complained of her brother, particularly for having acted so effeminate a part as to look in a gla.s.s, and meddle with things which belong to women only. The father, embracing them both with much tenderness and affection, told them that he should like to have them both look in the gla.s.s every day; "To the intent that you," says he to the Boy, "if you think that face of yours handsome, may not disgrace and spoil it by an ugly temper and a bad behaviour; and that you," added he, addressing the Girl, "may make up for the defects of your person by the sweetness of your manners and the excellence of your understanding."

MORAL.

A well-informed mind is better than a handsome person.

FABLE XLIII.

THE SHEPHERD'S DOG AND THE WOLF.

A WOLF, with hunger fierce and bold, Ravaged the plains, and thinned the fold; Deep in the wood secure he lay, The thefts of night regaled the day.

In vain the shepherd's wakeful care Had spread the toils, and watched the snare; In vain the Dog pursued his pace, The fleeter robber mocked the chase.

As Lightfoot ranged the forest round, By chance his foe's retreat he found: "Let us awhile the war suspend, And reason as from friend to friend."

"A truce!" replies the Wolf. 'Tis done.

The Dog the parley thus begun:--

"How can that strong, intrepid mind Attack a weak, defenceless kind?

Those jaws should prey on n.o.bler food, And drink the boar's and lion's blood; Great souls with generous pity melt, Which coward tyrants never felt.

How harmless is our fleecy care!

Be brave, and let thy mercy spare."

"Friend," says the Wolf, "the matter weigh: Nature designed us beasts of prey; As such, when hunger finds a treat, 'Tis necessary Wolves should eat.

If, mindful of the bleating weal, Thy bosom burn with real zeal, Hence, and thy tyrant lord beseech; To him repeat the moving speech.

A Wolf eats sheep but now and then; Ten thousands are devoured by men."

MORAL.

An open foe may prove a curse, But a pretended friend is worse.

FABLE XLIV.

THE COVETOUS MAN.

A POOR covetous wretch, who had sc.r.a.ped together a good parcel of money, went and dug a hole in one of his fields and hid it. The great pleasure of his life was to go and look upon this treasure once a day at least; which one of his servants observing, and guessing there was something more than ordinary in the place, came at night, found it, and carried it off. The next day, returning as usual to the scene of his delight, and perceiving it had been stolen away from him, he tore his hair for grief, and uttered the doleful complaints of his despair to the woods and meadows. At last, a neighbour of his, who knew his temper, overhearing him, and being informed of the occasion of his sorrow, "Cheer up, man!" says he, "thou has lost nothing; there is the hole for thee to go and peep at still; and if thou canst but fancy thy money there, it will do just as well."

MORAL.

Money, well used, has its full value; but when allowed to lie useless to others or to one's self, it possesses no more value than a heap of oyster sh.e.l.ls. Avarice is, therefore, a silly as well as a sinful vice. Use your wealth in doing good, and its highest value will be attained.

FABLE XLV.

THE HARE AND THE TORTOISE.

A HARE twitted a Tortoise on account of his slowness, and vainly boasted of her own great speed in running. "Let us make a match,"

replied the Tortoise: "I'll run with you five miles for five pounds, and the Fox yonder shall be the umpire of the race." The Hare agreed, and away they both started together. But the Hare, by reason of her exceeding swiftness, outran the Tortoise to such a degree that she made a jest of the matter, and, finding herself a little tired, squatted in a tuft of fern that grew by the way, and took a nap, thinking that, if the Tortoise went by, she could at any time catch him up with all the ease imaginable. In the meanwhile the Tortoise came jogging on, with a slow but continued motion; and the Hare, out of a too great security and confidence of victory, oversleeping herself, the Tortoise arrived at the end of the race first.

MORAL.

Industry and application will, in most cases, do more than quick and ready wit. The highest genius, without industry, will generally fail of any great exploit.

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE HARE AND THE TORTOISE.]

FABLE XLVI.

THE HOG AND THE ACORNS.

ONE moonshiny night, With a great appet.i.te, A Hog feasted on Acorns with all his might: Quite pleased with his prize Both in taste and in size, While he ate he devoured the rest with his eyes.

You know, I'm in joke, When I say that the oak, Moved a _bough_ to the grunter before she spoke; But you know, too, in fable, We feel ourselves able To make anything speak--tree, flower, or table.

Said the Oak, looking big, "I think, Mr. Pig, You might thank me for sending you fruit from my twig; But, you ill-behaved Hog!

You devour the prog, And have no better manners, I think, than a dog."

He replied, looking up, Though not ceasing to sup, Till the Acorns were eaten--ay, every cup-- "I acknowledge, to you My thanks would be due, If from feelings of kindness my supper you threw.