20
ibe of servants hasten'd through,
And also two gigantic cats,
Who spied our country mouse and brats.
Then, by a timely exit, she
Just saved herself and family.
"Oh, ask me not," said she in haste,
"Your tempting dainties more to taste;
I much prefer my homely peas,
To splendid dangers such as these."
MORAL.
Then let not those begin to grumble,
Whose lot is safe, though poor and humble;
Nor envy him who better fares,
But for each good, has twenty cares.
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
THE FOX AND THE CROW.
Crows feed upon worms: yet an author affirms
Cheshire cheese they will get if they're able;
"For," said he, "I well know, one unprincipled crow
Once purloined a large piece from my table."
Then away darted she, to the shade of a tree,
To deposit the booty within her;
But it never occurr'd to the mind of the bird,
That a _fox_ was to have it for dinner.
"How many a slip, 'twixt the cup and the lip!"
(Excuse me, I pray, the digression,)
Said a fox to himself, "I can share in the pelf,
If I act with my usual discretion."
So said he, "Is it you? pray, ma'am, how do you do,
I have long wish'd to pay you a visit;
For a twelvemonth has pass'd, since I heard of you last
Which is not very neighborly, is it?
"But, dear madam," said he, "you are dining, I see;
On that subject I'd ask your advice;
Pray, ma'am, now can you tell, where provisions they sell,
That are not an extravagant price?
"Bread and meat are so dear, and have been for a year,
That poor people can scarcely endure it,
And then _cheese is so high_, that such beggars as I,
_Till it falls_, cannot hope to procure it."
But the ill-behaved bird did not utter a word,
Still intent on retaining her plunder;
Thought the fox, "It should seem, this is not a good scheme, What else can I think of, I wonder?"
So said Reynard o