And, more than that, I'm king. Am I such gifts away to fling, To be but one of Ithaca's mere cits? In rank and file perhaps I might bear arms. In such a change I see no charms.'-- Ulysses passes to the bear:-- 'How changed, my friend, from what you were! How sightly once! how ugly now!' 'Humph! truly how?' Growl'd Bruin in his way-- 'How else than as a bear should be, I pray? Who taught your stilted highness to prefer One form to every other, sir? Doth yours possess peculiar powers The merits to decide, of ours? With all respect, I shall appeal my case To some sweet beauty of the bearish race. Please pass it by, if you dislike my face. I live content, and free from care; And, well remembering what we were, I say it, plain and flat, I'll change to no such state as that.' Next to the wolf the princely Greek With flattering hope began to speak:-- 'Comrade, I blush, I must confess, To hear a gentle shepherdess Complaining to the echoing rocks Of that outrageous appetite Which drives you, night by night, To prey upon her flocks. You had been proud to guard her fold In your more honest life of old. Pray quit this wolfship, now you can, And leave the woods an honest man.' 'But is there one?' the wolf replied: 'Such man, I own, I never spied. You treat me as a ravenous beast, But what are you? To say the least, You would yourself have eat the sheep, Which, eat by me, the village weep. Now, truly, on your faith confess, Should I, as man, love flesh the less? Why, man, not seldom, kills his very brother; What, then, are you but wolves to one another? Now, everything with care to scan, And rogue with rogue to rate, I'd better be a wolf than man, And need not change my state.' Thus all did wise Ulysses try, And got from all the same reply, As well from great as small. Wild liberty was dear to all; To follow lawless appetite They counted their supreme delight. All banish'd from their thought and care The glorious praise of actions fair. Where passion led, they thought their course was free; Self-bound, their chains they could not see. Prince, I had wish'd for you a theme to choose, Where I might mingle pleasantry with use; And I should meet with your approving voice, No doubt, if I could make such choice. At last, Ulysses' crew Were offer'd to my view. And there are like them not a few, Who may for penalty await Your censure and your hate.[3]