"Off, with his wife, Children, and all that in the world he had, He hasten'd thither, and with spade and mattock Delved to the spring,--nor had he deep to dig. But having nothing wherewithal to draw, Save one scant narrow pitcher, thus he spake: 'Let none take dudgeon, if the earliest draught Be for myself; the second for my dame; And't is but right my children have the third, The fourth, and on, till all have slaked their thirst; Then, one by one, I will the rest should drink, According to their work and labour done, Who sunk the well; to flocks and cattle next Refreshment must be forth distributed, First to the feeblest and the nearest death.' "According to this equitable rule, All came to drink; while each, that he might not Be last, made most of his small services. This, a poor magpie, once his master's pet, Seeing and hearing, cried, "Ah! well-a-day! I'm no relation, I've not help'd to sink The well, nor am of any further use To be to him what I have been; 't is plain That if I wait my turn, I'm in the lurch, And must drop dead with thirst unless I seek Relief elsewhere.' "Cousin[102], with this example I furnish you, to stop the mouths of those Who think his holiness might have preferr'd Me to the _Neri, Vanni, Lotti, Bacci_, Nephews and kin so numerous, claiming right To drink in the first year; then those that help'd To robe him with the best of mantles, &c. &c. &c. * * * * If till all these have drunk their fill I wait, I know not which will be the first dried up, The well of water, or myself by thirst."