No soul can warrant life or right, Secure from men of lawless might; But if a knave’s advice assist, ’Gainst fraud and force what can exist? An Eagle on a Tortoise fell, And mounting bore him by the shell: She with her house her body screens, Nor can be hurt by any means. A Carrion Crow came by that way, “You’ve got,” says she, “a luscious prey; But soon its weight will make you rue, Unless I show you what to do.” The captor promising a share, She bids her from the upper air To dash the shell against a rock, Which would be sever’d by the shock. The Eagle follows her behest, Then feasts on turtle with his guest. Thus she, whom Nature made so strong, And safe against external wrong, No match for force, and its allies, To cruel death a victim dies. VII. THE MULES AND ROBBERS. Two laden Mules were on the road-- A charge of money was bestowed Upon the one, the other bore Some sacks of barley. He before. Proud of his freight, begun to swell, Stretch’d out his neck, and shook his bell. The poor one, with an easy pace, Came on behind a little space, When on a sudden, from the wood A gang of thieves before them stood; And, while the muleteers engage, Wound the poor creature in their rage Eager they seize the golden prize, But the vile barley-bags despise. The plunder’d mule was all forlorn, The other thank’d them for their scorn: “’Tis now my turn the head to toss, Sustaining neither wound nor loss.” The low estate’s from peril clear, But wealthy men have much to fear. VIII. THE STAG AND THE OXEN.