You are a king, and, therefore, take no heed Of who or what. The gods and lords of men Put all things on one level: let who will Say what they like. Adieu, my children dear, If you once meet them." "Nay, good ma'am, but still, Describe them," said the Eagle; "have no fear: Be sure I will not touch them, on my word." The Owl replied, "My little ones are small, Beautiful, shapely,--prettier, far, than all. By my description you will know the dears; Do not forget it: let no fate by you Find way to us, and cause me ceaseless tears." Well, one fine evening, the old Owl away, The Eagle saw, upon a rocky shelf, Or in a ruin, (who cares which I say?) Some little ugly creatures. To himself The Eagle reasoned, "These are not our friend's, Moping and gruff, and such a screeching, too: Let's eat 'em." Waste time never spends The royal bird, to give the brute his due; And when he eats, he eats, to tell the truth. The Owl, returning, only found the feet Of her dear offspring:--sad, but yet it's sooth. She mourns the children, young, and dear, and sweet, And prays the gods to smite the wicked thief, That brought her all the woe and misery. Then some one said, "Restrain thy unjust grief; Reflect one moment on the casualty. Thou art to blame, and also Nature's law, Which makes us always think our own the best. You sketched them to the Eagle as you saw: They were not like your portrait;--am I just?" FABLE CIII. THE SHEPHERD AND THE LION. Fables are sometimes more than they appear: A crude, bare moral wearies some, I fear. The simplest animal to truth may lead; The story and the precept make one heed: They pass together better than apart: To please, and yet instruct, that is the art. To write for writing's sake seems poor to me; And for this reason, more especially-- Numbers of famous men, from time to time, Have written fables in laconic rhyme, Shunning all ornament and verbose length, Wasting no word, unless to gain in strength. Phædrus was so succinct, some men found fault; Curt Æsop was far readier still to halt. But, above all, a Greek[1] did most excel, Who in four verses told what he would tell. If he succeeded, let the experts say; Let's match him now with Æsop, by the way. A Shepherd and a Hunter they will bring: I give the point and ending as they sing, Embroidering here and there, as on I go;-- Thus Æsop told the story, you must know.