Fables of La Fontaine — Fables XI and XII

FABLE XI.

THE DRAGON WITH MANY HEADS, AND THE DRAGON

WITH MANY TAILS.

An Envoy of the Grand Signor (I can't say more) One day, before the Emperor's court, Vaunted, as some historians report, That his royal master had a force Outnumbering all the foot and horse The Kaiser could bring to the war.

Then spoke a choleric attendant: "<i>Our</i> Prince has more than <i>one</i> dependant That keeps an army at his own expense."

The Pasha (man of sense), Replied: "By rumour I'm aware What troops the great electors spare, And that reminds me, I am glad, Of an adventure I once had, Strange, and yet true.

I'll tell it you.

Once through a hedge the hundred heads I saw Of a huge Hydra show.

My blood, turned ice, refused to flow: And yet I felt that neither fang nor claw Could more than scare me--for no head came near.

There was no room.

I cast off fear.

While musing on this sight, Another Dragon came to light.

Only one head this time;

But tails too many to count up in rhyme.

The fit again came on, Worse than the one just gone.

The head creeps first, then follows tail by tail;

Nothing can stop their road, nor yet assail;

One clears the way for all the minor powers: The first's <i>your</i> Emperor's host, the second <i>ours</i>."

[Illustration: THE WOLF AND THE LAMB.

] FABLE XII.

THE WOLF AND THE LAMB.

The reasoning of the strongest has such weight, None can gainsay it, or dare prate, No more than one would question Fate.

A Lamb her thirst was very calmly slaking, At the pure current of a woodland rill;

A grisly Wolf, by hunger urged, came making A tour in search of living things to kill.

"How dare you spoil my drink?"

he fiercely cried;

There was grim fury in his very tone;

"I'll teach you to let beasts like me alone.

"Let not your Majesty feel wrath," replied The Lamb, "nor be unjust to me, from passion;

I cannot, Sire, disturb in any fashion The stream which now your Royal Highness faces, I'm lower down by at least twenty paces."

"You spoil it!"

roared the Wolf; "and more, I know, You slandered me but half a year ago."

"How could I do so, when I scarce was born?"

The Lamb replied; "I was a suckling then."

"Then 'twas your brother held me up to scorn."

"I have no brother."

"Well, 'tis all the same;

At least 'twas some poor fool that bears your name.

You and your dogs, both great and small, Your sheep and shepherds, one and all, Slander me, if men say but true, And I'll revenge myself on you."

Thus saying, he bore off the Lamb Deep in the wood, far from its dam.

And there, not waiting judge nor jury, Fell to, and ate him in his fury.

FABLE XIII.