A Hundred Fables of La Fontaine Part 10

Two parts the serpent has-- Of men the enemies-- The head and tail: the same Have won a mighty fame, Next to the cruel Fates;-- So that, indeed, hence They once had great debates About precedence.

The first had always gone ahead; The tail had been for ever led; And now to Heaven it pray'd, And said, "O, many and many a league, Dragg'd on in sore fatigue, Behind his back I go.

Shall he for ever use me so?

Am I his humble servant?

No. Thanks to G.o.d most fervent!

His brother I was born, And not his slave forlorn.

The self-same blood in both, I'm just as good as he: A poison dwells in me As virulent as doth In him. In mercy, heed, And grant me this decree, That I, in turn, may lead-- My brother, follow me.

My course shall be so wise, That no complaint shall rise."

With cruel kindness Heaven granted The very thing he blindly wanted: At once this novel guide, That saw no more in broad daylight Than in the murk of darkest night, His powers of leading tried, Struck trees, and men, and stones, and bricks, And led his brother straight to Styx.

And to the same unlovely home, Some states by such an error come.

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE HEAD & THE TAIL OF THE SERPENT.]

The Dog And His Master's Dinner.

Our eyes are not made proof against the fair, Nor hands against the touch of gold.

Fidelity is sadly rare, And has been from the days of old.

Well taught his appet.i.te to check, And do full many a handy trick, A dog was trotting, light and quick, His master's dinner on his neck.

A temperate, self-denying dog was he, More than, with such a load, he liked to be.

But still he was, while many such as we Would not have scrupled to make free.

Strange that to dogs a virtue you may teach, Which, do your best, to men you vainly preach!

This dog of ours, thus richly fitted out, A mastiff met, who wish'd the meat, no doubt.

To get it was less easy than he thought: The porter laid it down and fought.

Meantime some other dogs arrive: Such dogs are always thick enough, And, fearing neither kick nor cuff, Upon the public thrive.

Our hero, thus o'ermatch'd and press'd,-- The meat in danger manifest,-- Is fain to share it with the rest; And, looking very calm and wise, "No anger, gentlemen," he cries: "My morsel will myself suffice; The rest shall be your welcome prize."

With this, the first his charge to violate, He snaps a mouthful from his freight.

Then follow mastiff, cur, and pup, Till all is cleanly eaten up.

Not sparingly the party feasted, And not a dog of all but tasted.

_In some such manner men abuse_ _Of towns and states the revenues._ _The sheriffs, aldermen, and mayor,_ _Come in for each a liberal share._

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE DOG AND HIS MASTER'S DINNER.]

The Joker and the Fishes.

A joker at a banker's table, Most amply spread to satisfy The height of epicurean wishes, Had nothing near but little fishes.

So, taking several of the fry, He whisper'd to them very nigh, And seem'd to listen for reply.

The guests much wonder'd what it meant, And stared upon him all intent.

The joker, then, with sober face, Politely thus explain'd the case: "A friend of mine, to India bound, Has been, I fear, Within a year, By rocks or tempests wreck'd and drown'd.

I ask'd these strangers from the sea To tell me where my friend might be.

But all replied they were too young To know the least of such a matter-- The older fish could tell me better.

Pray, may I hear some older tongue?"

What relish had the gentlefolks For such a sample of his jokes, Is more than I can now relate.

They put, I'm sure, upon his plate, A monster of so old a date, He must have known the names and fate Of all the daring voyagers, Who, following the moon and stars, Have, by mischances, sunk their bones Within the realms of Davy Jones; And who, for centuries, had seen, Far down, within the fathomless, Where whales themselves are sceptreless, The ancients in their halls of green.

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE JOKER AND THE FISHES.]

The Rat and the Oyster.

A country rat, of little brains, Grown weary of inglorious rest, Left home with all its straws and grains, Resolved to know beyond his nest.

When peeping through the nearest fence, "How big the world is, how immense!"

He cried; "there rise the Alps, and that Is doubtless famous Ararat."

His mountains were the works of moles, Or dirt thrown up in digging holes!

Some days of travel brought him where The tide had left the oysters bare.

Since here our traveller saw the sea, He thought these sh.e.l.ls the s.h.i.+ps must be.

"My father was, in truth," said he, "A coward, and an ignoramus; He dared not travel: as for me, I've seen the s.h.i.+ps and ocean famous; Have cross'd the deserts without drinking, And many dangerous streams unshrinking."

Among the shut-up sh.e.l.l-fish, one Was gaping widely at the sun; It breathed, and drank the air's perfume, Expanding, like a flower in bloom.

Both white and fat, its meat Appear'd a dainty treat.

Our rat, when he this sh.e.l.l espied, Thought for his stomach to provide.

"If not mistaken in the matter,"

Said he, "no meat was ever fatter, Or in its flavour half so fine, As that on which to-day I dine."

Thus full of hope, the foolish chap Thrust in his head to taste, And felt the pinching of a trap-- The oyster closed in haste.

_Now those to whom the world is new_ _Are wonder-struck at every view;_ _And the marauder finds his match,_ _When he is caught who thinks to catch._

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE RAT AND THE OYSTER.]

The Hog, the Goat, and the Sheep.

A goat, a sheep, and porker fat, All to the market rode together.

Their own amus.e.m.e.nt was not that Which caused their journey thither.

Their coachman did not mean to "set them down"

To see the shows and wonders of the town.

The porker cried, in piercing squeals, As if with butchers at his heels.

The other beasts, of milder mood, The cause by no means understood.

They saw no harm, and wonder'd why At such a rate the hog should cry.

"Hush there, old piggy!" said the man, "And keep as quiet as you can.

What wrong have you to squeal about, And raise this dev'lish, deaf'ning shout?

These stiller persons at your side Have manners much more dignified.

Pray, have you heard A single word Come from that gentleman in wool?

That proves him wise." "That proves him fool!"

The testy hog replied; "For did he know To what we go, He'd cry almost to split his throat; So would her ladys.h.i.+p the goat.