Of true merit and excellence, many men try, By grave airs and long faces, the place to supply; And think that their wisdom is surely inferred From their seldom vouchsafing to utter a word.
Indeed, it is true, in a general way, a.s.ses may not be known if they never should bray, And for a wise animal safely may pa.s.s; If one opens his mouth, then we know he"s an a.s.s.
FABLE VIII.
THE a.s.s AND THE FLUTE.
Be it good or bad, This little lay To me occurred to-day, By chance.
Through a field in our village A wandering a.s.s One day did pa.s.s, By chance.
Left by a careless swain, Forgotten on the ground, There a flute he found, By chance.
As he stopped to smell it-- This donkey grave-- A snort he gave, By chance.
Into the flute his breath Happened to find its way, And the flute began to play, By chance.
"Oho!" said the wise beast, "How well I can play!
Who will say me nay?
By chance.".
There are donkeys plenty, Who, without one jot of art, May, for once, well play a part, By chance.
FABLE IX.
THE ANT AND THE FLEA.
A curious affectation some put on Of knowing everything they chance upon.
Whatever matter they may hear or see, However new or excellent it be, Of small account and easy always deem it, And never worthy of their praise esteem it.
This sort of folks I cannot let go by; But, for their foolish pertness, I shall try, Sure as I live, to show them up in rhyme, If I should waste on them a whole day"s time.
The Ant was once relating to the Flea The wholesome lesson of her industry; How, by her labor, her support she gains; How builds the ant-hills; with what care and pains She gathers up the scattered grains for food; And how all labor for the common good; With other instances of enterprise, That might with many pa.s.s for idle lies, If "t were not every day before our eyes.
To all her statements still the Flea demurred,-- Yet could not contradict a single word-- With talk like this: "Ah, yes, undoubtedly; I grant it; certainly. O, so I see!
"T is plain. I think so, too, myself. Of course.
All right. I understand. There"s better and there worse."
With such evasions, patience growing thin, Ready almost to jump out of her skin, Unto the Flea she answered,--"Now, my friend, To go with me, I beg you, condescend.
And since, in such grand fashion, you a.s.sume All this so mighty easy to be done, Give us yourself, by way of good example, Of your own great abilities, a sample."
With impudence unmoved, replied the Flea: "Pooh, nonsense! Think you thus to puzzle me?
Who couldn"t, if they chose to try? But, stay,-- I"ve an engagement now. Another day We"ll think of it,"--and lightly leaped away.
FABLE X.
THE WALL-FLOWER AND THE THYME.
A Wall-flower spoke,--as I have somewhere read,-- A Thyme-plant growing in a neighboring bed, In the flower language, scornfully addressing: "Heaven help you, Thyme! "Tis really distressing!
Though the most fragrant of all plants, I own, Scarce a hand"s breadth above the ground you"ve grown."
"Dear friend, that I"m of humble height, "tis true, But without help I grow. I pity you, That cannot rise, even a hand"s breadth high, Without a wall to climb by, if you try."
For writers, who, by clinging to the name Of others, arrogate an author"s fame,-- By adding to a work, perchance a note, Or a short preface,--this response I quote.
FABLE XI.
THE RABBITS AND THE DOGS.
A Rabbit, whom Two Dogs pursue, Into the copse In terror flew.
Out of his burrow, At the clatter, A comrade sprung.-- "Friend, what"s the matter?"
"The matter? Zounds!
I"m fairly blown; By villain hounds I"m hunted down."
"I see them yonder Through the furze.
But they "re not hounds."-- "What then?"--"They"re curs."
"Curs, hey! Then so Is my grandmother!
You do not know The one from t" other."
"Stupid! they "re naught But mongrel cur."-- "They"re hounds, I say."-- "They"re curs, good sir."
While they dispute The dogs arrive; And both of them Eat up alive.