Fables of La Fontaine — Fables CLXI and CLXII

THE ASS AND THE DOG.

We ought to help each other, wise men say: An Ass forgot this motto, one fine day.

I know not how our beast ignored the rule, For he's an amiable, good-natured fool.

A trusty Dog so gravely paced along, The master took his nap at even-song: The Ass began to roam about and feed, And found, at last, a rank and savoury mead.

There were no thistles,--that he must endure: One must not be too much an epicure.

The feast was still not bad: while aught remains;

'Twould pass for once, the air's fresh on these plains.

The Dog, half dead with hunger, said, at last, "My dear companion, all this time I fast.

Stoop down a bit, and let the panniers fall;

I'll take my dinner out."

No word at all The Ass vouchsafed, fearing to lose a bite;

At length he deigned to answer the poor wight: "Friend, when your master rouses from his nap, He's sure at once to call you on his lap, And give you a good meal."

A Wolf, just then, Ran forth, half famished, from his forest den.

The Ass called loudly to the Dog to aid;

The Dog stood still.

"My friend," he quickly said, "Fly till your master wakes--he'll not be long;-- Run fast.

If caught, avert the coming wrong With a hard kick, and break the wretch's jaw: They've shod you lately, and you're right in law.

Mind, stretch him flat."

The Dog spoke wise and well.

But the Wolf choked the Ass, and down he fell.

Conclusion:--We should always help each other;

And every man help carry his lame brother.

FABLE CLXII.

THE TWO DOGS AND THE DEAD ASS.

The Virtues must, surely, sisters be, For that Vices are brothers, we all well know.

And if but to one a man's heart be free, All the others, like hurricanes, inward blow.

Yet, of course, both of virtues and vices 'tis true That one heart holds but of either few;

And not more than once in an age we see The Virtues in one small heart agree.

For if a man be valiant, 'tis sure, In a thousand cases, he's also rash;

And if he be prudent, the greed for more Will that respectable virtue dash.

Above all animals beside, In faithfulness the Dog takes pride;

But, far too oft, for food he craves, And even dogs are Folly's slaves.

Two Mastiffs, on a certain day, Beheld a Donkey's carcase floating, And fain had seized it for their prey, But baffling winds deceived their gloating.

At length one said, "Your eyes are good, My friend, so look on yonder flood, And tell me what is that I see;

If savoury ox or horse it be."

"Of what it is," replied the other, "What boots it, friend, to make a bother?

For dogs like us, in want of food, Even a scurvy Ass is good.

The thing that now the most concerns us Is, how to swim to such a distance, Against this plaguy wind's resistance.

But, stay!

let's quench the thirst that burns us, By drinking up the river dry;

And when we've quenched our thirst, we'll pass And gorge us on that savoury Ass."

With haste the Mastiffs now began To quaff the river as it ran;

But, well-a-day!

it came to pass That, long ere they had reached the Ass, The twain had long since quenched their thirst, And, still persisting, nobly burst.

With us weak mortals 'tis the same, When eager seeking wealth or fame.

What is hopeless seems not so;

So on from ill to ill we go.

A king whose states are amply round, Will conquer still, to make them square;

And wealthy men, with gold to spare, Sigh for just fifty thousand pound;

Whilst others, just as foolish, seek To learn all science,--Hebrew, Greek!

In short, we most of us agree, 'Tis easy work to drain the sea!

A mortal man, to carry out The projects of his single soul, Would need four bodies, strong and stout, [Illustration: THE TWO DOGS AND THE DEAD ASS.

] And then would not complete the whole.

For, even should his life extend To twice Methuselah's, depend Ten thousand years would find him still Where he began--the total <i>nil.

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