Upon a tree there mounted guard A veteran cock, adroit and cunning; When to the roots a fox up running Spoke thus, in tones of kind regard: “Our quarrel, brother, ’s at an end; Henceforth I hope to live your friend; For peace now reigns Throughout the animals’ domains. I bear the news. Come down, I pray, And give me the embrace fraternal; And please, my brother, don’t delay: So much the tidings do concern all, That I must spread them far to-day. Now you and yours can take your walks Without a fear or thought of hawks; And should you clash with them or others, In us you’ll find the best of brothers;— For which you may, this joyful night, Your merry bonfires light. But, first, let’s seal the bliss With one fraternal kiss.” “Good friend,” the cock replied, “upon my word, A better thing I never heard; And doubly I rejoice To hear it from your voice: And, really, there must be something in it, For yonder come two greyhounds, who, I flatter Myself, are couriers on this very matter; They come so fast, they’ll be here in a minute. I’ll down, and all of us will seal the blessing With general kissing and caressing.” “Adieu,” said fox; “my errand’s pressing; I’ll hurry on my way, And we’ll rejoice some other day.” So off the fellow scampered, quick and light, To gain the fox-holes of a neighboring height,— Less happy in his stratagem than flight. The cock laughed sweetly in his sleeve;— ’Tis doubly sweet deceiver to deceive. ANACREONTIC. [From the French of Menage.] As, dancing o’er the enamelled plain, The floweret of the virgin train, My soul’s Corinna, lightly played, Young Cupid saw the graceful maid; He saw, and in a moment flew, And round her neck his arms he threw, And said, with smiles of infant joy, “Oh! kiss me, mother, kiss thy boy!” Unconscious of a mother’s name, The modest virgin blushed with shame; And, angry Cupid scarce believing That vision could be so deceiving, Thus to mistake his Cyprian dame, The little infant blushed with shame. “Be not ashamed, my boy,” I cried, For I was lingering by his side; “Corinna and thy lovely mother, Believe me, are so like each other That clearest eyes are oft betrayed, And take thy Venus for the maid.” THE LANDLADY’S DAUGHTER. [From the German of Uhland.] There came three students over the Rhine: Dame Werter’s house they entered in: “Dame Werter, hast thou good beer and wine And where’s that lovely daughter of thine?” “My beer and my wine are fresh and clear, My daughter is lying cold on her bier.” They stepped within the chamber of rest, Where shrined lay the maiden, in black robes dressed. The first he drew from her face the veil: “Ah! wert thou alive, thou maiden so pale,” He said, as he gazed with saddened brow, “How dearly would I love thee now!”