'You villain!' cried a man who found An adder coil'd upon the ground, 'To do a very grateful deed For all the world, I shall proceed.' On this the animal perverse (I mean the snake; Pray don't mistake The human for the worse) Was caught and bagg'd, and, worst of all, His blood was by his captor to be spilt Without regard to innocence or guilt. Howe'er, to show the why, these words let fall His judge and jailor, proud and tall:-- 'Thou type of all ingratitude! All charity to hearts like thine Is folly, certain to be rued. Die, then, Thou foe of men! Thy temper and thy teeth malign Shall never hurt a hair of mine.' The muffled serpent, on his side, The best a serpent could, replied,-- 'If all this world's ingrates Must meet with such a death, Who from this worst of fates Could save his breath? Upon thyself thy law recoils; I throw myself upon thy broils, Thy graceless revelling on spoils; If thou but homeward cast an eye, Thy deeds all mine will justify. But strike: my life is in thy hand; Thy justice, all may understand, Is but thy interest, pleasure, or caprice:-- Pronounce my sentence on such laws as these. But give me leave to tell thee, while I can, The type of all ingratitude is man.' By such a lecture somewhat foil'd, The other back a step recoil'd, And finally replied,-- 'Thy reasons are abusive, And wholly inconclusive. I might the case decide Because to me such right belongs; But let's refer the case of wrongs.' The snake agreed; they to a cow referr'd it. Who, being called, came graciously and heard it. Then, summing up, 'What need,' said she, 'In such a case, to call on me? The adder's right, plain truth to bellow; For years I've nursed this haughty fellow, Who, but for me, had long ago Been lodging with the shades below. For him my milk has had to flow, My calves, at tender age, to die. And for this best of wealth, And often reëstablished health, What pay, or even thanks, have I? Here, feeble, old, and worn, alas! I'm left without a bite of grass. Were I but left, it might be weather'd, But, shame to say it, I am tether'd. And now my fate is surely sadder Than if my master were an adder, With brains within the latitude Of such immense ingratitude. This, gentles, is my honest view; And so I bid you both adieu.' The man, confounded and astonish'd To be so faithfully admonish'd, Replied, 'What fools to listen, now, To this old, silly, dotard cow! Let's trust the ox.' 'Let's trust,' replied The crawling beast, well gratified. So said, so done; The ox, with tardy pace, came on And, ruminating o'er the case,