FABLE XXIV.
THE THRUSH, PARROT AND MAGPIE.
A Thrush, who heard a Parrot talking—
Of him, rather than of his instructor, man,
Desired himself the mystery to learn.
And, in one lesson, such line accent thought
To have attained, that, in his turn,
He the great art of speech began
To the Magpie to teach; and turned his pupil out
A scholar, as accomplished as, no doubt,
Are those who will poor copies and translations scan
For models—Blunder shocking!
FABLE XXV.
THE WOLF AND THE SHEPHERD.
The Wolf a Shepherd blandly once addressed:
"Friend—let me say I really do not know
Why you will view me always as a pest;
You think me a bad fellow. Faith, I am not so.
What a warm coat my skin in winter yields!
It shelters many a man from cold and wetting;
Moreover, too, from sting of flea it shields,
And other insects vile your couch besetting.
Against the withering blight of evil eye
My claws will screen you—counter charm secure.
My fat for hurts a sovereign remedy—
The uses of my teeth you know, I'm sure."
The Shepherd answered: "Animal perverse!
Upon thy head be Heaven's eternal curse!
On endless mischief bent—no thanks to you
If, now and then, some good you chance to do."
To many books, in these our days, my verse
Allots the Wolf's foul character and curse.