FABLES.
FROM THE SPANISH OF YRIARTE.
I.
A bear who with his master sought
An honest living to obtain,
In dance professional essayed
The indulgent public’s praise to gain.
Triumphant on the circle round
Gazing—an ape at length he spied:
“What think you of my art?” quoth he—
“Bad—bad!”—the knowing ape replied.
“Indeed!” the disappointed brute
Sullen rejoined;—“’tis envy’s strain!
Is not mine air the height of grace,
And every step with judgment ta’en?”
A pig approached;—with rapture gazed—
“Wondrous!” he cried;—“what steps! what mien!
A dancer of such magic skill
Ne’er has been, nor e’er will be seen!”
Bruin the sentence heard—and paused;
Long in his brain revolved the same—
Then thus, in modest attitude,
Humbled and changed, was heard exclaim—
“When the wise monkey censured me,
I ’gan to fear my labor vain;
But since the pig has praised—alas!
I ne’er shall dare to dance again!”
Each author to this rule attend—
Doubt fortune, if the critic blames;
But when your work the fools commend,
At once consign it to the flames!
II.
Gentles, attend this simple rhyme:
It boasts small skill, I’m free to say;
Yet heard aright, its untaught chime
May teach you more than loftier lay.
An Ass one morning sallied forth
To journey down a sunny vale;
He cropped the dewy flowers of earth,
And snuffed with joy the fragrant gale.
Bounding at length to seek repose
Beneath an oak tree’s welcome shade,
He saw amid the herbage close,
A shepherd’s flute neglected laid.
Starting—he turned him at the sight—
Then stooped the wonder near to view—
When lo! his breath by chance aright,
A tone of sudden music drew!
Proud he looked up.—“What mortal now
Shall doubt my skill?”—he cried with glee—
“The bird that carols on yon bough
Can boast no rivalship with me!”
May many by this ditty learn—
—Nor let the moral pass unheeded—
Who like the Ass, all lessons spurn,
Because they once, by chance, succeeded!