Fables of La Fontaine — Fables LXXXVII and LXXXVIII

THE MOUNTAIN IN LABOUR.

Mountain in labour announced the new birth With clamour so loud that the people all thought 'Twould at least bear a city, the largest on earth.

It was merely a Mouse that the incident brought.

When I think of this fable, so false in its fact, And so true in its moral, it brings to my mind Those common-place authors who try to attract Attention by means of the subjects they find.

"I will sing about Jove and the Titans," cries one;

But how often the song comes to nothing, when done!

[Illustration: FORTUNE AND THE LITTLE CHILD.

] FABLE LXXXVIII.

FORTUNE AND THE LITTLE CHILD.

Beside a well profoundly deep A Schoolboy laid him down to sleep.

Ere care has racked with aches the head, The hardest bank 's a feather bed;

A grown-up man, in such a case, Had leaped a furlong from the place.

Happy for him, just then came by Fortune, and saw him heedless lie.

She woke him softly, speaking mild: "I've saved your life, you see, my child.

Another time you close your eyes, Be just a little bit more wise.

If you had fallen down below, 'Twould have been laid to me, I know, Though your own fault; and now, I pray, Before I take myself away, In honest truth you'll own the same, For I was hardly here to blame.

It was not <i>my</i> caprice or joke."

The goddess vanished as she spoke.

And she was right; for never yet Have any a misfortune met, But Fortune's blamed: she has to pay For our misdoings every day.

For all mad, foolish, ill-planned schemes We try to justify our dreams By rating her with curses strong.

In one word, <i>Fortune's always wrong.

</i> [Illustration] [Illustration] FABLE LXXXIX.