The Ox And The Grasshopper
: Literary Fables Of YriarteAs in a field the sturdy Ox was ploughing,
A Grasshopper, close by him, shrilly sang out;
"Ah! what a crooked furrow, friend, you're making!
Then the Ox answered,--"Sure, my little lady,
If every other furrow were not drawn straight,
You never would perceive that this was crooked;
Stop, then, reproaches so unjust and futile;
For well I serve my master, and he heeds not
A single failure, in so much accomplished."
* * * * *
Now let the captious critic that presumeth,--
Vain Grasshopper, the useful Ox reproaching,--
To drag to light, from works of sterling merit,
Some petty blemish, take to himself our meaning.
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