A Man of middle age, Fast getting grey, Thought it would be but sage To fix the marriage day. He had in stocks, And under locks, Money enough to clear his way. Such folks can pick and choose; all tried to please The moneyed man; but he, quite at his ease, Showed no great hurry, Fuss, nor scurry. "Courting," he said, "was no child's play." Two widows in his heart had shares-- One young; the other, rather past her prime, By careful art repairs What has been carried off by Time. The merry widows did their best To flirt and coax, and laugh and jest; Arranged, with much of bantering glee, His hair, and curled it playfully. The eldest, with a wily theft, Plucked one by one the dark hairs left. The younger, also plundering in her sport, Snipped out the grey hair, every bit. Both worked so hard at either sort, They left him bald--that was the end of it. "A thousand thanks, fair ladies," said the man; "You've plucked me smooth enough; Yet more of gain than loss, so <i>quantum suff.</i>, For marriage now is not at all my plan. She whom I would have taken t'other day To enroll in Hymen's ranks, Had but the wish to make me go <i>her</i> way, And not my own; A head that's bald must live alone: For this good lesson, ladies, many thanks." FABLE XXVI. THE FOX AND THE STORK. The Fox invited neighbour Stork to dinner, But Reynard was a miser, I'm afraid; He offered only soup, and that was thinner Than any soup that ever yet was made. The guest--whose lanky beak was an obstruction, The mixture being served upon a plate-- Made countless vain experiments in suction, While Reynard feasted at a rapid rate. The victim, bent upon retaliation, Got up a little dinner in return. Reynard accepted; for an invitation To eat and drink was not a thing to spurn. He reached the Stork's at the appointed hour, Flattered the host, as well as he was able, And got his grinders ready to devour Whatever dishes might be brought to table. But, lo! the Stork, to punish the offender, Had got the meat cut very fine, and placed Within a jug; the neck was long and slender, Suited exactly to its owner's taste. The Stork, whose appetite was most extensive, Emptied the jug entirely to the dregs; While hungry Reynard, quite abashed and pensive, Walked homewards with his tail between his legs. Deceivers reap the fruits of their deceit, And being cheated may reform a cheat. [Illustration: THE LION AND THE GNAT.] FABLE XXVII. THE LION AND THE GNAT.