“The ass hath very long ears, and yet he hath no sense of music, but brayeth with a frightful noise. He is obstinate and unruly, and will go his own way, even though he is severely beaten. The child, who will not be taught, is but little better; he has no delight in learning, but talketh of his own folly, and disturbeth others with his noise. “The dog barketh all the night long, and thinks it no trouble to rob honest people of their rest. “The fox is a cunning thief, and men, when they do not fear God, are crafty and deceitful. The wolf is cruel and blood-thirsty. As he devoureth the lamb, so do bad men oppress and tear the innocent and helpless. “The adder is a poisonous snake, and hatha forked double tongue; and so men speak lies, and utter slanders against their neighbours, when _the poison of asps is under their lips_. The devil, who deceiveth with lies, and would destroy all mankind, is the _old serpent_, who brought death into the world by the venom of his bite. He would kill me, and all the children that are born, if God would let him; but Jesus Christ came to save us from his power, and to _destroy the works of the Devil_. “Lord thou hast made me a man for thy service: O let me not dishonour thy work, by turning myself into the likeness of some evil beast: let me not be as the fox, who is a thief and a robber: let me never be cruel, as a wolf, to any of thy creatures; especially to my dear fellow-creatures, and my dearer fellow Christians; but let me be harmless as the lamb; quiet and submissive as the sheep; that so I may be fit to live, and be fed on thy pasture, under the good shepherd, Jesus Christ. It is far better to be the poorest of his flock, than to be proud and cruel, as the lion or the tiger, who go about seeking what they may devour.” THE QUESTIONS. “_Q_. What is the child that will not learn? _A_. An ass, which is ignorant and unruly. _Q_. What are wicked men, who hurt and cheat others? _A_. They are wolves and foxes, and bloodthirsty lions. _Q_. What are ill-natured people, who trouble their neighbours and rail at them? _A_. They are dogs, who bark at every body. _Q_. But what are good and peaceable people? _A_. They are harmless sheep; and little children, under the grace of God, are innocent lambs. _Q_. But what are liars? _A_. They are snakes and vipers, with double tongues and poison under their lips. _Q_. Who is the good shepherd? _A_. Jesus Christ.” * * * * * There is a passage not less apposite in Donne's Epistle to Sir Edward, afterwards Lord Herbert of Cherbury.