The Talking Beasts Part 33

The Lion's Share

The Heifer, the Goat, and their sister the Sheep, Compacted their earnings in common to keep, 'Tis said, in time past, with a Lion, who swayed Full lords.h.i.+p o'er neighbours, of whatever grade.

The Goat, as it happened, a Stag having snared, Sent off to the rest, that the beast might be shared.

All gathered; the Lion first counts on his claws, And says, "We'll proceed to divide with our paws The stag into pieces, as fix'd by our laws."

This done, he announces part first as his own; "'Tis mine," he says, "truly, as Lion alone."

To such a decision there's nought to be said, As he who has made it is doubtless the head.

"Well, also, the second to me should belong; 'Tis mine, be it known, by the right of the strong.

Again, as the bravest, the third must be mine.

To touch but the fourth whoso maketh a sign, I'll choke him to death In the s.p.a.ce of a breath!"

The Shepherd and His Dog

A Shepherd, with a single Dog, Was ask'd the reason why He kept a Dog, whose least supply Amounted to a loaf of bread For every day. The people said He'd better give the animal To guard the village seignior's hall; For him, a Shepherd, it would be A thriftier economy To keep small curs, say two or three, That would not cost him half the food, And yet for watching be as good.

The fools, perhaps, forgot to tell If they would fight the wolf as well.

The silly Shepherd, giving heed, Cast off his Dog of mastiff breed, And took three dogs to watch his cattle, Which ate far less, but fled in battle.

_Not vain our tale, if it convinces Small states that 'tis a wiser thing To trust a single powerful king, Than half a dozen petty princes._

The Old Man and the a.s.s

An Old Man, riding on his a.s.s, Had found a spot of thrifty gra.s.s, And there turn'd loose his weary beast.

Old Grizzle, pleased with such a feast, Flung up his heels, and caper'd round, Then roll'd and rubb'd upon the ground, And frisk'd and browsed and bray'd, And many a clean spot made.

Arm'd men came on them as he fed: "Let's fly!" in haste the Old Man said.

"And wherefore so?" the a.s.s replied; "With heavier burdens will they ride?"

"No," said the man, already started, "Then," cried the a.s.s, as he departed.

"I'll stay, and be--no matter whose; Save you yourself, and leave me loose, But let me tell you, ere you go (I speak plain English, as you know), My master is my only foe."

The Lion Going to War

The Lion had an enterprise in hand; Held a war-council, sent his provost-marshal, And gave the animals a call impartial-- Each, in his way, to serve his high command.

The Elephant should carry on his back The tools of war, the mighty public pack, And fight in elephantine way and form; The Bear should hold himself prepared to storm; The Fox all secret stratagems should fix; The Monkey should amuse the foe by tricks.

"Dismiss," said one, "the blockhead a.s.ses, And Hares, too cowardly and fleet."

"No," said the King; "I use all cla.s.ses; Without their aid my force were incomplete.

The a.s.s shall be our trumpeter, to scare Our enemy. And then the nimble Hare Our royal bulletins shall homeward bear."

_A monarch provident and wise Will hold his subjects all of consequence, And know in each what talent lies.

There's nothing useless to a man of sense._

The a.s.s and the Lap-dog

One's native talent from its course Cannot be turned aside by force; But poorly apes the country clown The polish'd manners of the town.

Their Maker chooses but a few With power of pleasing to imbue; Where wisely leave it we, the ma.s.s, Unlike a certain fabled a.s.s, That thought to gain his master's blessing By jumping on him and caressing.

"What!" said the Donkey in his heart; "Ought it to be that Puppy's part To lead his useless life In full companions.h.i.+p With master and his wife, While I must bear the whip?

What doth the Cur a kiss to draw Forsooth, he only gives his paw!

If that is all there needs to please, I'll do the thing myself, with ease."

Possess'd with this bright notion-- His master sitting on his chair, At leisure in the open air-- He ambled up, with awkward motion, And put his talents to the proof; Upraised his bruised and batter'd hoof, And, with an amiable mien, His master patted on the chin, The action gracing with a word-- The fondest bray that e'er was heard!

Oh, such caressing was there ever?

Or melody with such a quaver?

"Ho! Martin! here! a club, a club bring!"

Out cried the master, sore offended.

So Martin gave the a.s.s a drubbing-- And so the comedy was ended.

The Hare and the Partridge

A field in common share A Partridge and a Hare, And live in peaceful state, Till, woeful to relate!

The hunters mingled cry Compels the Hare to fly.

He hurries to his fort, And spoils almost the sport By faulting every hound That yelps upon the ground.

At last his reeking heat Betrays his snug retreat.

Old Tray, with philosophic nose, Snuffs carefully, and grows So certain, that he cries, "The Hare is here; bow wow!"

And veteran Ranger now-- The dog that never lies-- "The Hare is gone," replies.

Alas! poor, wretched Hare, Back comes he to his lair, To meet destruction there!

The Partridge, void of fear, Begins her friend to jeer:-- "You bragg'd of being fleet; How serve you, now, your feet?"

Scarce has she ceased to speak-- The laugh yet in her beak-- When comes her turn to die, From which she could not fly.

She thought her wings, indeed, Enough for every need; But in her laugh and talk, Forgot the cruel hawk!

The Weasel in the Granary

A Weasel through a hole contrived to squeeze, (She was recovering from disease), Which led her to a farmer's h.o.a.rd.

There lodged, her wasted form she cherish'd; Heaven knows the lard and victuals stored That by her gnawing perish'd!

Of which the consequence Was sudden corpulence.

A week or so was past, When having fully broken fast, A noise she heard, and hurried To find the hole by which she came, And seem'd to find it not the same; So round she ran, most sadly flurried; And, coming back, thrust out her head, Which, sticking there, she said, "This is the hole, there can't be blunder: What makes it now so small, I wonder, Where, but the other day, I pa.s.s'd with ease?"

A Rat her trouble sees, And cries, "But with an emptier belly; You entered lean, and lean must sally."

The Wolf Turned Shepherd

A Wolf, whose gettings from the flocks Began to be but few, Bethought himself to play the fox In character quite new.

A Shepherd's hat and coat he took, A cudgel for a crook, Nor e'en the pipe forgot: And more to seem what he was not, Himself upon his hat he wrote, "I'm Willie, shepherd of these sheep."

His person thus complete, His crook in upraised feet, The impostor Willie stole upon the keep.

The proper Willie, on the gra.s.s asleep, Slept there, indeed, profoundly, His dog and pipe slept, also soundly; His drowsy sheep around lay.

As for the greatest number, Much bless'd the hypocrite their slumber And hoped to drive away the flock, Could he the Shepherd's voice but mock.

He thought undoubtedly he could.

He tried: the tone in which he spoke, Loud echoing from the wood, The plot and slumber broke; Sheep, dog, and man awoke.

The Wolf, in sorry plight, In hampering coat bedight, Could neither run nor fight.