Menenius told the story well, When discord in the senate fell, And discontented Commons taunted it For having power and treasure, honour, dignity, While all the care and pain was theirs, Taxes and imposts, all the toils of war, The blood, the sorrow, brand and scar. Without the walls already do they band, Resolved to seek another land. Menenius was able, By this most precious fable, To bring them safely back To the old, honest track. FABLE LV. THE MONKEY AND THE DOLPHIN. It was a custom with the Greeks For travellers by sea to take Monkeys and fancy dogs, whose tricks Would pastime in fair weather make. A vessel with such things on deck, Not far from Athens, went to wreck; But for the Dolphins all had drowned. This animal is friend to man: The fact in Pliny may be found; So must be true, say what you can. [Illustration: THE MONKEY AND THE DOLPHIN.] A Dolphin half the people saves, Even a Monkey, by-the-by, He thought a sailor, from the waves He kindly helped: the creature sly, Seated upon the Dolphin's back, Looked very grave and wise; good lack! One would have really almost sworn T'was old Arion, all forlorn. The two had nearly reached the land, When just by chance, and such a pity! Fish asks, "Are you from Athens grand?" "Yes; oh, they know me in that city; If you have any business there, Employ me; for it is truly where My kinsfolk hold the highest place. My second cousin is Lord Mayor." The Dolphin thanked him with good grace: "And the Piræus knows your face? You see it often, I dare say?" "See him! I see him every day; An old acquaintance; that is so." The foolish chatterer did not know Piræus was a harbour, not a man. Such people, go where'er you can, You meet within a mile of home, Mistaking Vaugirard for Rome, People who chattering dogmatise Of what has never met their eyes. The Dolphin laughed, and turning round The Monkey saw, and straightway found He'd saved mere shadow of humanity; Then plunged again beneath the sea, And search amid the billows made For one more worthy of his aid. FABLE LVI. THE EAGLE, THE WILD SOW, AND THE CAT.