Fables of La Fontaine — Fables XXXIII and XXXIV

FABLE XXXIII.

THE TWO BULLS AND THE FROG.

Two Bulls were butting in rough battle, For the fair belle of all the cattle;

A Frog, who saw them, shuddering sighed.

"What ails you?"

said a croaker by his side.

"What?

why, good gracious!

don't you see The end of all this fight will be That one will soon be chased, and yield The empire of this flowery field;

And driven from rich grass to feed, Searching the marsh for rush and reed, He'll trample many a back and head, And every time he moves we're dead.

'Tis very hard a heifer should occasion To us so cruel an invasion."

There was good sense in the old croaker's fear, For soon the vanquished Bull came near: Treading with heedless, brutal power, He crushed some twenty every hour.

The poor in every age are forced by Fate To expiate the follies of the great.

[Illustration: THE PEACOCK COMPLAINING TO JUNO.

] FABLE XXXIV.

THE PEACOCK COMPLAINING TO JUNO.

The Peacock to great Juno came: "Goddess," he said, "they justly blame The song you've given to your bird: All nature thinks it most absurd, The while the Nightingale, a paltry thing, Is the chief glory of the spring: Her note so sweet, and deep, and strong."

"I do thee, jealous bird, no wrong," Juno, in anger, cried: "Restrain thy foolish pride.

Is it for you to envy other's song?

-- You who around your neck art wearing Of rainbow silks a hundred different dyes?

-- You, who can still display to mortal's eyes A plume that far outfaces A lapidary's jewel-cases?

Is there a bird beneath the skies More fit to please and strike?

No animal has every gift alike: We've given you each one his special dower;

This one has beauty, and that other power.

Falcons are swift; the Eagle's proud and bold;

By Ravens sorrow is foretold;

The Crow announces miseries to come;

All are content if singing or if dumb.

Cease, then, to murmur, lest, as punishment, The plumage from thy foolish back be rent."