And, what was worse, his owner thought He--Ox--was honoured, being bought By cruel butcher, to be flayed, And as a prize beast then displayed!" The Man declared the Ox a liar, And said, "Yon Oak-tree shall be trier." The tree, appealed to, made a case Redounding unto Man's disgrace; Told how he sheltered Man from rain, Told how he garnished hill and plain, Told how he gave Man flowers and fruits, And how that, when Man's will it suits, He cuts him down and burns his roots! The Man, convinced against his will, Resolved to have his vengeance still; So took the Serpent, bag and all, And banged it up against the wall, Until the wretched Serpent died, And human wrath was satisfied. It is ever thus with the rich and great, Truth and reason they always hate; They think that all things here below Solely for their convenience grow; And if any this simple truth denies, They call him a sulky growler of lies; And this being so, when you wish to teach The truth to such people, keep out of their reach. FABLE CXCIV. THE TORTOISE AND THE TWO DUCKS. A Tortoise once, with an empty head, Grown sick of her safe but monotonous home, Resolved on some distant shore to tread;-- It is ever the cripple that loves to roam. Two Ducks, to whom our friend repaired To gossip o'er her bold intent, Their full approval straight declared; And, pointing to the firmament, Said, "By that road--'tis broad and ample-- We'll seek Columbia's mighty range, See peoples, laws, and manners strange; Ulysses shall be our example." (Ulysses would have been astounded At being with this scheme confounded.) The Tortoise liking much this plan, Straightway the friendly Ducks began To see how one for flight unfitted Might through the realms of air be flitted. At length within her jaws they fitted A trusty stick, and seizing each an end, With many a warning cry--"Hold fast! hold fast!" Bore up to heaven their adventurous friend. The people wondered as the cortège passed, And truly it was droll to see A Tortoise and her house in the Ducks' company. "A miracle!" the wondering mob surprises: "Behold, on clouds the great Queen Tortoise rises!" "A queen!" the Tortoise answered; "yes, forsooth; Make no mistake--I am--in honest truth." Alas! why did she speak? She was a chattering dunce: For as her jaws unclose, the stick slips out at once, And down amidst the gaping crowds she sank, A wretched victim to her claims to rank. Self-pride, a love of idle speaking, And wish to be for ever seeking A power that Nature ne'er intended, Are follies close allied, and from one stock descended. [Illustration: THE TWO ADVENTURERS AND THE TALISMAN.]