The Cocks

: Literary Fables Of Yriarte

A Cock, that was well known

As a champion brave and stout,

And a Chicken but half grown

Squabbled something about,--

But what, to me's unknown,--

And, after furious din,

At last got up a very pretty battle;

In which the chick such fight did show,

And the old one around so sharply rattle,

That, with a loud, exultant crow,

He claime
the honors of the field to win.

Then the seraglio's vanquished lord,--

His rival out of hearing of his tongue,--

Said, "Ah! in time he'll make a pretty bird,

But, now, poor fellow, he is very young."



No more he dared himself to match

With the young hero; but again

With an old Cock he had a scratch,--

Of many fights, a veteran,--

Who hardly left him plume or crest.

Whereon he muttered to the rest,

"The fine old fellow!--surely it would be

Unfair to thrash so old a chap as he."



* * * * *



Let him that will in strife engage

On any question literary,

Pay less attention to the age

Than talents of his adversary.



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