The Proud Eagle.
AN eagle dwelt upon a rock,
And perch’d upon the topmost stones:
Whence he would pounce on bird and beast
And bear them off to pick their bones.
He was a proud and cruel bird,
And boasted of his beak and claw;
His eye could reach both far and near,
And hunger was his only law.
One morning in the month of May
A lamb was bleating on the lawn:
“A fig for lambs,” said he; “to-day
But every pretty fawn that day
Was shelter’d by its careful dam:
So as he could not breakfast there,
He turn’d again to find the lamb.
And though he might have caught a hare
Who hurried off towards her brue;
“Nay think not, silly puss” he cried
“That I would stoop to lunch on you.”
But now the shepherd watch’d his lambs,
And, as he dared not venture there,
Away he flew, and swore aloud
He’d gobble up alive the hare.
He pass’d a little mouse just then,
Nor deigned to touch such paltry food:
But soon he found the prudent hare
Had stole away into the wood.
Then in a passion back he flew
To swallow whole the little mouse:
But little mouse her danger knew,
And now the evening dews were rising:
And as the light was waxing pale,
This proud bird (deem it not surprising)
Was glad to sup upon a snail.