Aesop, in Rhyme Part 5

THE COUNCIL OF MICE.

Some mice who saw fit, once a quarter to meet, To arrange the concerns of their city; Thought it needful to choose, as is common with us, First a chairman, and then a committee.

When the chairman was seated, the object he stated For which at that meeting they sat: Which was, it should seem, the concerting a scheme To defeat the designs of the cat.

Dr. Nibblecheese rose, and said, "I would propose, To this cat we fasten a bell; He who likes what I've said, now will hold up his head; He who does not, may hold up his tail."

So out of respect, they their noses erect, Except one who the order reversed; _Ayes_, all then but one, but yet nought could be done, Until he had his reasons rehea.r.s.ed.

"I shall not," said this mouse, "waste the time of the house, In long arguments; since, as I view it, The scheme would succeed without doubt, if indeed We could find any mouse who would _do it_."

"Hear! hear!" was the cry, and "no bells we will try, Unless you will fasten them on;"

So quite broken-hearted the members departed, For the bill was rejected _nem. con._

MORAL.

Then be not too hasty in giving advice, Lest your schemes should remind of the council of mice; You had better delay your opinion a year, Than put forth a ridiculous one, it is clear.

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THE WOLF AND THE LAMB.

A wolf and lamb once chanced to meet, Beside a stream, whose waters sweet Brought various kinds of beasts together, When dry and sultry was the weather; Now though the wolf came there to _drink_, Of _eating_, he began to think, As soon as near the lamb he came, And straight resolved to kill the same; Yet thought it better to begin, With threat'ning words and angry mien.

"And so," said he, to him below, "How dare you stir the water so?

Making the cool refres.h.i.+ng flood, As brown as beer, and thick as mud."

"Sir," said the lamb, "that cannot be, The water flows _from you to me_; So, 'tis impossible, I think, That what I do can spoil your drink."

"I say it does, you saucy puss: How dare you contradict me thus; But more than this, you idle clack, You rail'd at me behind my back Two years ago, I have been told;"

"How so? I'm not a twelvemonth old,"

The lamb replied; "So I suspect Your honor is not quite correct."

"If not, your mother it must be, And that comes all the same to me,"

Rejoined the wolf--who waited not But kill'd and ate him on the spot.

MORAL.

Some, like the wolf, adopt the plan, To make a quarrel _if they can_; But none with you can hold dispute, If you're _determined_ to be mute; For sure this proverb must be true, That ev'ry _quarrel_ must have _two_.

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THE BEASTS IN PARTNERs.h.i.+P.

This _firm_ once existed, I'd have you to know, Messrs. Lion, Wolf, Tiger, Fox, Leopard, and Co.; These in business were join'd, and of course 'twas implied, They their stocks should unite, and the profits divide.

Now the fable relates, it so happened one day, That their efforts combined, made a bullock their prey: But agreed that the Lion should make the division, And patiently waited the monarch's decision.

"My friends," said the Lion, "I've parted, you see, The whole into six, which is right, you'll agree; One part I may claim, as my share in the trade."

"Oh, take it and welcome," they all of them said.

"I claim too the second; since no one denies 'Twas my courage and conduct that gained you the prize: And for the third; that you know is a fine To the Lord of the manor, and therefore is mine."

"Hey day!" said the fox; "Stop a bit," said the lion, "I have not quite done," said he, fixing his eye on The other three parts; "you are fully aware, That, as _tribute_, one other part comes to my share.

"And I think 'twould be prudent, the next to put by Somewhere safe in _my_ den for a future supply, And the other, you know, will but barely suffice, To pay those expenses which always arise."

"If this be the case," said the fox, "I discern That the business to _us_ is a losing concern; If so to withdraw, I should think would be best;"

"Oh, yes! let us break up the firm," said the rest;

And so:--for you may not have heard of it yet,-- It was quickly dissolved, though not in _the gazette_.

MORAL.

Some folks in their dealings, like him in the fable, Will take others' shares, if they think they are able; But let them not wonder who act in this way, If they find none will join them in business or play.

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THE LION AND THE MOUSE.

A lion, with the heat oppress'd, One day composed himself to rest; But whilst he dozed, as he intended, A mouse his royal back ascended; Nor thought of harm as Esop tells, Mistaking him for something else, And travelled over him, and round him, And might have left him as he found him, Had he not, tremble when you hear, Tried to explore the monarch's ear!

Who straightway woke with wrath immense, And shook his head to cast him thence.

"You rascal, what are you about,"

Said he, when he had turned him out.

"I'll teach you soon," the lion said, "To make a mouse-hole in my head!"

So saying, he prepared his foot, To crush the trembling tiny brute; But he, the mouse, with tearful eye, Implored the lion's clemency, Who thought it best at least to give His little pris'ner a reprieve.