Salvation from the doom o’erhanging man and beast.
They found a ready way to ’scape beyond the spheres,
So soon as to reflect they turned their minds from fears.
Man sees another’s eye is but a wee, wee thing;
He knows how great a service can th’ eye’s pupil bring.”110
The beasts in answer: “Jackass! Prate to us no more.
Consider. Thou’rt a hare; a beast of no great store.
What talk is this? Thy betters ne’er have used such speech.
They never would have dared to think as thou dost preach.
It must be thou’rt o’erweening, or our fate’s at hand.