The next example we must get From creatures even smaller yet. A Dove came to a brook to drink, When, leaning on the crumbling brink, An Ant fell in, and failed to reach, Through those vast ocean waves, the beach. The Dove, so full of charity is she, Threw down a blade of grass, a promontory, Unto the Ant, who so once more, Grateful and glad, escaped to shore. Just then passed by A scampish poacher, soft, bare-footed, came Creeping and sly; A crossbow in his hand he bore: Seeing the Dove, he thought the game Safe in the pot, and ready for the meal: Quick runs the Ant, and stings his heel; The angry rascal turns his head; The Dove, who sees the scoundrel stoop, Flies off, and with her flies his soup. FABLE XXXI. THE ASTROLOGER WHO LET HIMSELF FALL INTO THE WELL. To an Astrologer, who by a blunder Fell in a well, said one, "You addle-head, Blind half an inch before your nose, I wonder How you can read the planets overhead." This small adventure, not to go beyond, A useful lesson to most men may be; How few there are at times who are not fond Of giving reins to their credulity, Holding that men can read, In times of need, The solemn Book of Destiny, That book, of which old Homer sung, What was the ancient <i>chance</i>, in common sense, but modern Providence? Chance that has always bid defiance To laws and schemes of human science. If it were otherwise, a single glance Would tell us there could be no fortune and no chance. All things uncertain; Who can lift the curtain? Who knows the will of the Supreme? He who made all, and all with a design; Who but himself can know them? who can dream He reads the thoughts of the Divine, Did God imprint upon the star or cloud The secrets that the night of Time enshroud, In darkness hid?--only to rack the brains Of those who write on what each sphere contains. To help us shun inevitable woes, And sadden pleasure long before its close; Teaching us prematurely to destroy, And turn to evil every coming joy, This is an error, nay, it is a crime. The firmament rolls on, the stars have destined time. The sun gives light by day, And drives the shadows of the night away. Yet what can we deduce but that the will Divine Bids them rise and bids them shine, To lure the seasons on, to ripen every seed, To shed soft influence on men; What has an ordered universe to do indeed, With chance, that is beyond our ken. Horoscope-makers, cheats, and quacks. On Europe's princes turn your backs, And carry with you every bellows-working alchymist: You are as bad as they, I wist.-- But I am wandering greatly, as I think, Let's turn to him whom Fate forced deep to drink.