Fables of La Fontaine — Fables CXXI and CXXII
THE HORSE AND THE ASS.
In this world every one must help his brother.
If your poor neighbour dies, his weary load On you, perhaps, may fall, and on no other.
An Ass and Horse were travelling on the road: The last had but the harness on his back.
The first, borne down unto the very ground, Besought the Horse to help him, or, alack!
He'd never reach the town.
In duty bound, Apologies he made for this request: "To you," he said, "the load will be mere sport."
The Horse refused, and snorted at the jest.
Just as he sneered, the Donkey died.
In short, He soon perceived he had not acted right, And had his friend ill treated; for that night They made him drag the cart through thick and thin, And in the cart his injured comrade's skin.
FABLE CXXII.
THE CHARLATAN.
Of Charlatans the world has never lack: This science of professors has no want.
Only the other day one made his vaunt He could cheat Acheron; in white and black Another boasted o'er the town that, lo!
He was another Cicero.
One of these fellows claimed a mastery Of eloquence; swore he could make an ass, "A peasant, rustic, booby, d'ye see?
-- Yes, gentlemen, a dolt of basest class-- Eloquent.
Bring me an ass," he cried, "The veriest ass, and I will teach him so, He shall the cassock wear with proper pride."
The Prince resolved the truth of this to know.
"I have," he to the rhetorician one day said, "A fine ass from Arcadia in my stable;
Make him an orator, if you are able."
"Sire, you do what you will."
The man they made Accept a sum, for twenty years to teach The ass the proper use of speech;
And if he failed, he in the market-place, With halter round his neck, was to be hung;
Upon his back his rhetoric books all strung, And asses' ears above his frightened face.
One of the courtiers said that he would go And see him at the gibbet; he'd such grace And presence, he'd become the hangman's show;
There, above all, his art would come in well: A long-extended speech--with pathos, too-- Would fit the great occasion, so it fell In the one form of those grand Ciceros Vulgarly known as thieves.
"Yes, that is true," The other said; "but ere I try, The king, the ass, and you will die."
