THE LION AND THE CUB How fond are men of rule and place, And lose their hours in ale and smoke. Nay, even with fools whole nights will sit, In hopes to be supreme in wit. If these can read, to these I write, To set their worth in truest light. A Lion-cub, of sordid mind, Fond of applause, he sought the feasts With asses all his time he spent, He caught their manners, looks, and airs; If e'er his Highness meant a joke, They grinned applause before he spoke; But at each word what shouts of praise! "Good gods! how natural he brays!" Elate with flattery and conceit, He seeks his royal sire's retreat; Forward, and fond to show his parts, His Highness brays; the Lion starts. "Puppy! that cursed vociferation Betrays thy life and conversation: Coxcombs, an ever-noisy race, Are trumpets of their own disgrace." "Why so severe?" the Cub replies; "Our senate always held me wise!" "How weak is pride," returns the sire: "All fools are vain when fools admire! The Hare With Many Friends 1853 But know, what stupid asses prize, John Gay [1685-1732] THE HARE WITH MANY FRIENDS FRIENDSHIP, like love, is but a name, A Hare, who, in a civil way, As forth she went at early dawn, The Horse replied: "Poor honest Puss, "Since every beast alive can tell You know, all other things give place. The Goat remarked her pulse was high, How strong are those, how weak am I! John Gay [1685-1732] THE SYCOPHANTIC FOX AND THE GULLIBLE RAVEN A RAVEN sat upon a tree, And not a word he spoke, for His beak contained a piece of Brie, Or, maybe, it was Roquefort? We'll make it any kind you please At all events, it was a cheese. The Sycophantic Fox and Gullible Raven 1855 Beneath the tree's umbrageous limb He saw the raven watching him, "J'admire," said he, "ton beau plumage," Two things there are, no doubt you know, A rooster that is bound to crow, A crow that's bound to roost, He tells the most unblushing lies. "Sweet fowl," he said, "I understand I hear you sing to beat the band And Adelina Patti. Pray render with your liquid tongue This subtle speech was aimed to please He thought no bird in all the trees Could sing as well as he did. In flattery completely doused, He gave the "Jewel Song" from "Faust." But gravitation's law, of course, I blush to add that when the bird He said one brief, emphatic word, The fox was greatly startled, but THE MORAL is: A fox is bound To be a shameless sinner. And also: When the cheese comes round You know it's after dinner. But (what is only known to few) The fox is after dinner, too. Guy Wetmore Carryl [1873-1904] THE FRIEND OF HUMANITY AND THE KNIFE GRINDER FRIEND OF HUMANITY NEEDY knife-grinder! whither are you going? Weary knife-grinder! little think the proud ones Scissors to grind O!” Tell me, knife-grinder, how you came to grind knives? Did some rich man tyrannically use you? Was it the squire? or parson of the parish? Was it the squire for killing of his game? or (Have you not read the Rights of Man, by Tom Paine?) Drops of compassion tremble on my eyelids, Ready to fall, as soon as you have told your Pitiful story. |