Who craves a victor’s mercy, saves his life just then.”
The lion muttered: “Onward come. My arm is strong.
Go look. At home is he? He’ll not live long.”
The hare: “Alas! Already I’ve endured his gaze.
Take me unto thy breast. My mind is all amaze.420
From off thy back, most potent lord and prince,
I’ll look down in the well. I’ll neither blink nor wince.”
The lion took him on his back without more fuss.
So, under this protection to the well went puss.
They both looked down; and in the water there