Fables of La Fontaine — Fables CCXXI and CCXXII
FABLE CCXXI.
THE EAGLE AND THE MAGPIE.
The Eagle, queen of the broad sky, Met, one day, in a field, the Pie-- In mind and language different, In plumage, and in every bent.
Chance brought them into a by way: The Magpie was afraid to stay.
The Eagle, having dined but lately, Assured her calmly and sedately.
"Come, let's be social," said the Eagle, then;
"And if the lord of gods and men Sometimes is weary of the king Who rules the universe, the thing Is clear, that ennui may e'en vex One who serves Jove.
Amuse me!
--come, And chatter as you do at home;
It is not me you will perplex."
The Pie began at once to gabble On this and that, on lords and rabble;
Just like the man in Horace--just, Good, bad, indifferent, all on trust;
Talking incessant, and still worse Than the poor fool in the famed verse.
She offers, if it please his grace, To skip about, and watch each place He wishes.
Jove knows that the Pie Was well constructed for a spy.
The eagle answers, angrily, "Don't leave your home, my tattling friend.
Adieu!
I have no wish to send A gossip to corrupt my court, And spread each lying, false report: I hate a gossip."
Quite content, Maggy cared little where she went.
To dwell among the gods or kings Is not the pleasantest of things;
That honour has its pangs also.
Detractors, spies, and many a foe, Gracious and bland enough in face, But false in heart, infest each place, And make you odious.
In courts wear Coats of two colours, or take care.
FABLE CCXXII.
THE QUARREL OF THE DOGS AND THE CATS; AND, ALSO, THAT OF THE CATS AND THE MICE.
Discord has always ruled this universe;
Our world of this could many facts rehearse.
This goddess over countless subjects reigns;
The elements not Jupiter himself restrains;
Nor these four potentates alone wage war: In many races there's a ceaseless jar.
A house once, full of Dogs and Cats, grew free Of strife, at last, by many a grave decree.
The master fixed their hours, and every meal, And let the quarrelsome his horsewhip feel.
They live, at last, like cousins, almost brothers, And furnish quite examples to all others.
At length peace ended;--some stray tempting bone, Some broth, or little preference to one shown, Made both belligerents half crazy run.
To plead the grievous injury that's done, I've heard that learned writers of old law Attribute this to some small legal flaw.
Be what it might, they both made angry claims, And set the kitchen and the hall in flames.
Some loud for Dog and some for Cat cried out: The Cats went mewing, the Dogs whined about.
They deafened every one.
Cats' advocate Referred to the decree; and the debate Ceased at that word; but still they searched in vain Where it was hid, and sought and sought again.
The Mice had eaten it; then, lo, once more The Mice were sufferers--many, many a score The old Cats swallowed--some, with cruel claws, Expounded to the Mice their code of laws;
Laid ambuscades; caught them in many ways, And from their master obtained food and praise.
<i>Mais à nos moutons.
</i> Not beneath the skies Lives there a creature without enemies.
'Tis Nature's law; and how is purblind man The secret of Gods mysteries to scan?
It is God's will; further I do not go: We waste our time in trying but to know.
Man is, at sixty years, a wondering fool, Fit to be whipped, and sent again to school.
[Illustration: LOVE AND FOLLY.
] FABLE CCXXIII.
