Page 186—Mixed Animal Land
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The Fox and the Cat The fox and the cat as they travelled one day, With moral discourses cut shorter on the way: "'Tis great," says the fox, "to make justice our guide!" "How godlike is mercy!" Grimalkin replied. Whilst thus they proceeded, a wolf from the wood, Impatient of hunger, and thirsting for blood, Rushed forth—as he saw the dull shepherd asleep— And seized for his supper an innocent sheep. "In vain, wretched victim, for mercy you bleat; When mutton's at hand," says the wolf, "I must eat." Grimalkin's astonished—the fox stood aghast, To see the fell beast at his bloody repast. "What a wretch!" says the cat—"'tis the vilest of brutes; Does he feed upon flesh when there's herbage and roots?" Cries the fox, "While our oaks give us acorns so good, What a tyrant is this to spill innocent blood!" Well, onward they marched, and they moralised still. Till they came where some poultry picked chaff by a mill. Sly Reynard surveyed the them with gluttonous eyes, And made, spite of morals, a pullet his prize! A mouse, too, that chanced from her covert to stray, The greedy Grimalkin secured as her prey! A spider that sat in her web on the wall, Perceived the poor victims, and pitied their fall; She cried, "Of such murders how guiltless am I!" So ran to regale on a new-taken fly! |
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Sour Grapes A fox was trotting one day, And just above his head He spied a vine of luscious grapes, Rich, ripe, and purple-red. Eager he tried to snatch the fruit, But, ah! it was too high; Poor Reynard had to give it up, And, heaving a deep sigh, He curl'd his nose and said, "Dear me! I would not waste an hour Upon such mean and common fruit— I'm sure those grapes are sour!" 'Tis thus we often wish thro' life, When seeking wealth and pow'r And when we fall, say, like the fox, We're "sure the grapes are sour!" |
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The Fox and the Mask A fox walked round a toyman's shop (How he came there, pray do not ask), But soon he made a sudden stop, To look and wonder at a mask. The mask was beautiful and fair, A perfect mask as e'er was made; At which a lady meant to wear At the ensuing masquerade. He turned it round with much surprise, To find it prove so light and thin; "How strange!" astonished Reynard cries, "Here's mouth and nose, and eyes and chin. "And cheeks and lips, extremely pretty; And yet, one thing there still remains To make it perfect—what a pity, So fine a head should have no brains!" Thus, to some boy or maiden pretty; Who to get learning takes no pains, May we exclaim, "Ah! what a pity, So fine a head should have no brains!" |
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The Fox and Crow In a dairy a crow, Having ventured to go, Some food for her young ones to seek, Flew up in the trees With a fine piece of cheese, Which she joyfuly held in her beak. A fox who lived by, To the tree saw her fly, And to share in the prize he made a vow, For, having just dined, He for cheese felt inclined, So he went and sat under the bough. She was cunning he knew, But so was he, too, And with flattery adapted his plan; For he knew if she'd speak, It must fall from his beak, So, bowing politely, began: "'Tis a very fine day," (Not a word did she say), "The wind, I believe, ma'am, is south: A fine harvest for peas;" He then looked at the cheese, But the crow did not open her mouth. Sly Reynard, not tired, He plumage admired: "How charming! how brilliant its hue! The voice must be fine Of a bird so divine, Ah, let me hear it, pray do. Believe me I long To hear a sweet song;" The silly crow foolishly tries; She scarce gave one squall, When the cheese she let fall, And the fox ran away with the prize. Jane Taylor |
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The Blind Men and the Elephant (A Hindoo Fable) It was six men of Indostan To learning much inclined, Who went to see an elephant, (Though all of them were blind), That each by observation Might satisfy his mind. The FIRST approached the Elephant, And happening to fall Against his broad and sturdy side, At once began to bawl: "God bless me!—but the Elephant Is very like a wall!" The SECOND feeling of the tusk, Cried: "Ho! what have we here So very round and smooth and sharp! To me 'tis mighty clear This wonder of an Elephant Is very like a spear!" The THIRD approached the animal, And happening to take The squirming trunk within his hands, This boldly up and spake: "I see," quoth he, "The Elephant Is very like a snake!" The FOURTH reached out his eager hand, And felt about the knee, "What most this wondrous beast is like Is mighty plain," quoth he; "'Tis clear enough the Elephant Is very like a tree!" The FIFTH, who chanced to touch the ear, Said: "E'n the blindest man Can tell what this resembles most, Deny the fact who can, This marvel of an Elephant Is very like a fan." The SIXTH no sooner had begun About the beast to grope, Than, seizing on the swinging tail That fell within his scope, "I see," quoth he, "the Elephant Is very like a rope!" And so these men of Indostan Disputed loud and long, Each in his own opinion Exceeding stiff and strong, Though each was partly in the right, And all were in the wrong. |
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