Favourite Fables in Prose and Verse | Page 8

I have been told that you treated me with ill-language behind my back about half a year ago." "Upon my word," says the Lamb, "the time you mention was before I was born." The Wolf finding it to no purpose to argue any longer against truth, fell into a great passion, snarling and foaming at the mouth, as if he had been mad; and, drawing nearer to the Lamb, "Sirrah," said he, "if it was not you, it was your father, and that's all one." So he seized the poor innocent, helpless thing, tore it to pieces, and made a meal of it.
[Illustration: THE WOLF AND THE LAMB.]
MORAL.
Bad men, who wish to quarrel, will always find a pretence; if they can find no true grounds, they will resort to those which are false.
FABLE XXVI.
THE OLD BULLFINCH AND YOUNG BIRDS.
It chanced, that, on a winter's day,?But warm and bright, and calm as May,?The birds, conceiving a design?To forestall sweet St. Valentine,?In many an orchard, copse, and grove,?Assembled on affairs of love;?And with much twitter and much chatter,?Began to agitate the matter.
At length, a Bullfinch, who could boast?More years and wisdom than the most,?Entreated, opening wide his beak,?A moment's liberty to speak;?And, silence publicly enjoined,?Delivered briefly thus his mind:
"My friends, be cautious how ye treat?The subject upon which we meet;?I fear we shall have winter yet."
A Finch, whose tongue knew no control,?With golden wing, and satin poll,?A last year's bird, who ne'er had tried?What marriage means, thus pert replied:
"Methinks, the gentleman," quoth she,?"Opposite, in the apple-tree,?By his good will, would keep us single,?'Till yonder heaven and earth shall mingle;?Or (which is likelier to befall)?'Till death exterminate us all.?I marry without more ado;?My dear Dick Redcap, what say you?"
Dick heard; and tweedling, ogling, bridling,?Turning short round, strutting, and sidling,?Attested glad his approbation?Of an immediate conjugation.?Their sentiments so well express'd,?Influenced mightily the rest;?All pair'd, and each pair built a nest.
But though the birds were thus in haste,?The leaves came on not quite so fast;?And destiny, that sometimes bears?An aspect stern on man's affairs,?Not altogether smil'd on theirs.
The wind, that late breath'd gently forth,?Now shifted east, and east by north;?Bare trees and shrubs but ill, you know,?Could shelter them from rain or snow;?Stepping into their nests, they paddled,?Themselves were chill'd, their eggs were addled;?Soon every father bird, and mother,?Grew quarrelsome, and peck'd each other;?Parted without the least regret,?Except that they had ever met;?And learn'd in future to be wiser?Than to neglect a good adviser.
MORAL.
Young folks, who think themselves so wise,?That old folks' counsel they despise,?Will find, when they too late repent,?Their folly prove their punishment.
FABLE XXVII.
THE MOUSE AND THE WEASEL.
A LITTLE starveling rogue of a Mouse had, with much pushing application, made his way through a small hole in a corn-basket, where he stuffed and crammed so plentifully, that, when he would have retired the way he came, he found himself too plump, with all his endeavours, to accomplish it. A Weasel, who stood at some distance, and had been diverting himself with beholding the vain efforts of the little fat thing, called to him, and said,?"Harkee, honest friend; if you have a mind to make your escape, there is but one way for it: contrive to grow as poor and lean as you were when you entered, and then, perhaps, you may get off."
MORAL.
If evil habits have got a man into difficulties, there is no surer way to extricate himself than, by God's help, to cast those habits off.
FABLE XXVIII.
THE OLD HOUND.
An old Hound, who had been an excellent good one in his time, and given his master great sport and satisfaction in many a chase, at last, by the effect of years, became feeble and unserviceable.
However, being in the field one day when the Stag was almost run down, he happened to be the first that came in with him, and seized him by one of his haunches; but his decayed and broken teeth not being able to keep their hold, the deer escaped and threw him quite out. Upon which his master, being in a great passion, and going to strike him, the honest old creature is said to have barked out this apology. "Ah! do not strike your poor old servant; it is not my heart and inclination, but my strength and speed that fail me. If what I now am displeases you, pray don't forget what I have been."
MORAL.
Past services should never be forgotten.
FABLE XXIX.
THE CHARGER AND THE ASS
The Horse, adorned with his great war-saddle, and champing his foaming bridle, came thundering along the way, and made the mountains echo with his loud, shrill neighing. He had not gone far before he overtook an Ass, who was labouring under a heavy burthen, and moving slowly on in the same track with himself. Immediately he called out to him, in a