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!