* * * * * FABLE XLVI. THE CUR, THE HORSE, AND THE SHEPHERD'S DOG. The lad of all-sufficient merit, With modesty ne'er damps his spirit; Presuming on his own deserts, On all alike his tongue exerts; His noisy jokes at random throws, And pertly spatters friends and foes; In wit and war the bully race Contribute to their own disgrace. Too late the forward youth shall find That jokes are sometimes paid in kind; _10 Or if they canker in the breast, He makes a foe who makes a jest. A village-cur, of snappish race, The pertest puppy of the place, Imagined that his treble throat Was blest with music's sweetest note: In the mid road he basking lay, The yelping nuisance of the way; For not a creature passed along, But had a sample of his song. _20 Soon as the trotting steed he hears, He starts, he cocks his dapper ears; Away he scours, assaults his hoof; Now near him snarls, now barks aloof; With shrill impertinence attends; Nor leaves him till the village ends. It chanced, upon his evil day, A pad came pacing down the way: The cur, with never-ceasing tongue, Upon the passing traveller sprung. _30 The horse, from scorn provoked to ire, Flung backward; rolling in the mire, The puppy howled, and bleeding lay; The pad in peace pursued the way. A shepherd's dog, who saw the deed, Detesting the vexatious breed, Bespoke him thus: 'When coxcombs prate, They kindle wrath, contempt, or hate; Thy teasing tongue had judgment tied, Thou hadst not, like a puppy, died.' _40 * * * * * FABLE XLVII. THE COURT OF DEATH.