The Pig The Cock And The Lamb

: Literary Fables Of Yriarte

In a court-yard a poultry-house did lie,

Where a brisk Cock around at pleasure ran;

Behind the court, in a convenient sty,

Lay a stout Pig--fat as an alderman.

In the same yard, a little Lamb there lived;

And good companions, too, were all the three;

As may be very easily believed,

For such in farmers' yards we often see.



"Now, with your leave,"--t e thrifty Pig, said he,

To the meek Lamb,--"what a delightful lot!

And what a peaceful, happy destiny,

The livelong day to slumber! Is it not?

Upon the honor of a Pig, I say,

That, in this wretched world, there's no such pleasure,

As to snore merrily the time away,

Let the world wag, and stretch yourself at leisure."



But, in his turn, the Cock the Lamb addressed,

Soon after Piggy did his dissertation end;

"To be with health and active vigor blest,

One must sleep sparingly, my little friend.

In hot July, or frosty winter day,

With the bright stars to watch, is the true way.

Sleep numbs our senses with a stupid sloth;

In fact unnerves the mind and body both."



The Lamb hears both, and knows not which to trust.

He never guesses--simple little elf--

That the fine rule, by each laid down, is just

That others ought to do what suits himself.



* * * * *



So among authors,--some there are who never

Think any doctrine sound, or maxim clever,

Or rules as good for others' guidance own,

Excepting such as they have hit upon.