Why, 'twas a very wicked thing, Nay, nay, my little girl, quoth he, 10. And every body praised the Duke* But what good came of it at last? Why-that-I cannot tell, said he, LESSON LVII. The Dog and the Fox.-GAY. 1. A SHEPHERD's dog, unskilled in sports, 4. By talk like this, from all mistrust, The dog was cured, and thought him just. As on a time the fox held forth On conscience, honesty, and worth, "we're safe from harm; 5. 66 Hold," says the dog; 'Twas nothing but a false alarm. * Duke of Marlborough, an Englishman. At yonder town, 'tis maket day; 66 6. Renard grew huff. Says he, “ This sneer, From you, I little thought to hear. Pray, what's dame Dobbins, friend, to me? Prove that I owe the dame a dinner." 7. "Friend," quoth the cur, "I meant no harm, Then why so captious? why so warm? My words, in common acceptation, Could never give this provocation; No lamb (for ought I ever knew) May be more innocent than you." 8. At this galled Renard winced, and swore Three lambs-am I to pay the cost? lie." 9. "Thou knave, thou fool," the dog replied, "The name is just, take either side; Thy guilt these applications speak; Sirrah, 'tis conscience makes you squeak." So saying, on the fox he flies : The self-convicted felon dies. LESSON LVIII. The Hare and the Tortoise.-LLOYD. 1. IN days of yore,* when time was young, When birds conversed as well as sung, When use of speech was not confined Merely to brutes of human kind, A forward hare of swiftness vain, The genius of the neighboring plain, Would oft deride the drudging crowd, • Yore, long ago, of old time. For geniuses are ever proud : He'd boast, his flight 'twere vain to follow; 2. A tortoise heard his vain oration, Coine, 'tis a match; nay, no denial : 'Twas "Done !" and "Done !" "All fair!" "A bet!" 3. The scampering hare outstripped the wind; And scarce had passed a single pole, 4. So said, so done, and safely, sure; 5. The bets were won, the hare awoke, You may But slow and steady wins the race." * An illustrious Roman General who opposed Hannibal in Haly. He died 203 years B. C. LESSON LIX. The Painter who pleased Nobody and Every Body.—GAY. 1. LEST men suspect your tale untrue, Keep probability in view, The trav❜ller, leaping o'er those bounds, 2. But flatt'ry never seems absurd; The flatter'd always take your word; Impossibilities seem just; They take the strongest praise on trust ; 3. So very like a painter drew, gave each muscle all its strength; 5. Two busto's, fraught with ev'ry grace, A Venus' and Apollo's face, He plac'd in view-resolv'd to please, From these corrected every feature, And spirited each awkward creature. 6. All things were set; the hour was come, His palette ready o'er his thumb : My Lord appear'd, and seated right, In proper attitude and light, The painter look'd, he sketch'd the piece; Then dipt his pencil, talk'd of Greece, Of Titian's* tints, of Guido's* air, * An Italian painter. "Those eyes, my Lord, the spirit there, The features, fraught with sense and wit, 7. Observe the work."-My Lord reply'd, No looking-glass seem'd half so true. 8. A lady came. With borrow'd grace, E'en beauties were almost content. 9. Through all the town his art they prais❜d, His custom grew, his price was rais'd. Had he the real likeness shown, Would any man the picture own? Each found the likeness in his thought. LESSON LX. Story of the Siege of Calais. 1. EDWARD the III. after the battle of Cressy,† laid siege to Calais. He had fortified his camp in so impregn ɩble a manner, that all the efforts of France proved ineffectual to raise the siege, or throw succors into the city. The citizens, under count Vienne, their gallant governor, made an admirable defence. An Italian painter. † Cressy, a town of France, situated on the river Maye, 100 miles N. of Paris. It is celebrated for the great victory gained on the 26th of August, A. D. 1346, by Edward III. of England, over Philip VI. of France. Cal-ais, a town of France, situated on the Straits of Dover, taken by Edward III. in 1347. |