THE LION AND RAT (II, 11)“ Be kind whene'er you can,” should be your creed,
There's none so small but you his aid may need.
This striking truth two fables now shall prove ;
Matter enough is here your faith to move.
A blundering rat burst through the earth,
And fell into the lion's paws.
The animal of royal birth
Scorned with such blood to stain his claws :
He spared his life, the kindness was repaid ;
Who'd think the lion could e'er require his aid ?
However, 'twas the lion's lot,
Leaving the forest, in a net to fall,
Nor could his rage and roaring break the thrall.
The rat ran to his aid, and speedily
Gnawed through a mesh and set him free.
Patience and length of time will still
Much more than force and rage fulfil.
THE DOVE AND ANT (II, 12) Yet lesser animals our moral prove.
Along a limpid stream a sipping dove
Beheld an ant, which, bending o'er its brink,
Had fallen in whilst stooping there to drink.
To reach the shore the ant now vainly tried,
Amidst this dreaded raging ocean tide.
The kind bird promptly threw a blade of grass,
By which the ant again to shore did pass.
A certain beggar wandered there,
Barefoot and hungry, seeking better fare;
A bow and arrow he had got :
The bird of Venus saw, sought to destroy,
Nay, thought he had her in his pot ;
And licked his lips for joy.
While ho prepared to make the dove his prey,
The ant severely stung his heel.
The fellow turned, for she had made him feel.
The dove, alarmed in time, flew far away.
“Pigeons,” said he, at loss of dinner sad
“Are not, I see, so easy to be had.”
