Fables of La Fontaine — Fables LV and LVI
FABLE LV.
THE MONKEY AND THE DOLPHIN.
It was a custom with the Greeks For travellers by sea to take Monkeys and fancy dogs, whose tricks Would pastime in fair weather make.
A vessel with such things on deck, Not far from Athens, went to wreck;
But for the Dolphins all had drowned.
This animal is friend to man: The fact in Pliny may be found;
So must be true, say what you can.
[Illustration: THE MONKEY AND THE DOLPHIN.
] A Dolphin half the people saves, Even a Monkey, by-the-by, He thought a sailor, from the waves He kindly helped: the creature sly, Seated upon the Dolphin's back, Looked very grave and wise; good lack!
One would have really almost sworn T'was old Arion, all forlorn.
The two had nearly reached the land, When just by chance, and such a pity!
Fish asks, "Are you from Athens grand?"
"Yes; oh, they know me in that city;
If you have any business there, Employ me; for it is truly where My kinsfolk hold the highest place.
My second cousin is Lord Mayor."
The Dolphin thanked him with good grace: "And the Piræus knows your face?
You see it often, I dare say?"
"See him!
I see him every day;
An old acquaintance; that is so."
The foolish chatterer did not know Piræus was a harbour, not a man.
Such people, go where'er you can, You meet within a mile of home, Mistaking Vaugirard for Rome, People who chattering dogmatise Of what has never met their eyes.
The Dolphin laughed, and turning round The Monkey saw, and straightway found He'd saved mere shadow of humanity;
Then plunged again beneath the sea, And search amid the billows made For one more worthy of his aid.
FABLE LVI.
THE EAGLE, THE WILD SOW, AND THE CAT.
An Eagle lodged its young within a hollow tree;
A Sow lived at the foot; a Cat between the two.
Friendly they were, good neighbours, the whole three,-- Between the mothers there was no to-do.
At last the Cat malignant mischief made;
She climbed up to the Eagle: "Ma'am, our peace Is ended, death," she says, "is threatening; I'm dismayed.
We perish if our children die; she'll never cease, That Sow accursed.
See!
how she grubs and digs, And mines and burrows, to uproot our oak;
She hopes to ruin us and ours, to feed her pigs When the tree falls--Madam, it is no joke!
Were there but hopes of saving one, I'd go and quietly mourn alone."
Thus sowing fear broadcast, she went With a perfidious intent, To where the Sow sat dozily.
"Good friend and neighbour," whispered she, "I warn you, if you venture forth, The Eagle pounces on your family;
Don't go and spread the thing about, Or I shall fall a victim to her wrath."
Having here also sown wild fears, And set her neighbours by the ears, The Cat into her hole withdrew;
The Eagle after would not fly To bring home food; the poor Sow, too, Was still more fearful and more shy.
Fools!
not to see that one's first care Is for one's self to find good fare;
Both stayed at home, still obstinate, To save their young from cruel fate.
The royal bird, she feared the mine;
The Sow, a pounce upon her swine;
Hunger slew all the porcine brood, And then the eaglets of the wood;
Not one was left--just think of that!
What a relief to Madame Cat!
A treacherous tongue sows misery By its pernicious subtlety;
Of all the ills that from Pandora's box arose, Not one brought half so many woes As foul Deceit; daughter of Treachery.
FABLE LVII.
