To enter, save in airy vision. Monarch! pardon this decision; When I mounted Fortune's height, A fate untimely met my sight; But who, alas! is quite so wise, As not sometimes to wish to rise?" FABLE CLXXXIX. THE TWO MEN AND THE TREASURE. A Man of cash and credit shorn (The Devil only in his purse), Resolved to hang himself one morn, Since death by hunger might be worse: A king of death which pleases not Those curious in their final taste. A rope and nail he quickly got, And fixed them to a wall in haste. The wall was weak and very old, With the man's weight it crumbling fell; When out there came a stream of gold, The Treasure that he loved so well. He did not stay to count, but ran; Pale Penury no more he feared. When in the miser came--poor man! To find his wealth had disappeared. "Gold gone! This cord's my only wealth!" He cried; "now I have lost all hope:" And so straightway he hanged himself. How changed the fortunes of that rope! The miser saves his wealth for those Who may be prudent, may be thieves; Into the grave perhaps it goes: Who knows the changes Fortune weaves? For Lady Fortune mocks outright At human nature's dying pangs; And if by you or me made tight The rope, she laughs that some one hangs! FABLE CXC. THE SHEPHERD AND HIS FLOCK. "Alas! I see another one Of my poor foolish flock is gone! The wolf, relentless, day by day, Makes still another sheep his prey. In vain I count them, oft and oft-- Ten times a hundred; they're so soft, That they have let my Bob be torn By wolfish jaws. Ah! me, forlorn! My darling Bob would follow me, In town or in the country, up and down, O'er all the world, with tread for tread, If I but showed a bit of bread. A furlong off my step he knew, And to my piping time kept true. Alas! poor Bobby!" When, at last, This funeral discourse had past, And Robin's fame was duly sounded, The Shepherd, by his flock surrounded, Addressed them all, ram, lamb, and sheep, And said, that if they'd only keep United, never wolf would dare Their woolly-coated throats to tear. The flock declared, with solemn bleat, They all their master's views would meet, Form ever one united band, And chase Sir Wolf from out the land. Delighted at their brave reply, Guillot regaled them sumptuously. But, sad to say, before the night, There happened a disaster new. A horrid wolf appeared in sight, And off the timid creatures flew. In truth 'twas a mere shadow, but The ant's a wolf in Lilliput. Bad soldiers you in vain address; Heroic aims they all profess; But let the slightest danger show, In spite of generals, off they go. FABLE CXCI.