The Fox said "I can play, when it fits, Many wiles that with man make me quits." "But my trick's up a tree!" Said the Cat, safe to see Clever Fox hunted out of his wits. ...
"Might his Cat be a woman," he said: Venus changed her: the couple were wed: But a mouse in her sight Metamorphosed her quite, And for bride, a cat found he instead.
A rooster, while scratching for grain, Found a Pearl. He just paused to explain That a jewel's no good To a fowl wanting food, And then kicked it aside with disdain. ...
How the cunning old Crow got his drink When 'twas low in the pitcher, just think! Don't say that he spilled it! With pebbles he filled it, Till the water rose up to the brink.
From the hounds the swift Deer sped away, To his cave, where in past times he lay Well concealed; unaware Of a Lion couched there, For a spring that soon made him his prey. ...
A Cow sought a mouthful of hay; But a Dog in the manger there lay, And he snapped out "how now?" When most mildly, the Cow Adventured a morsel to pray.
His image the Dog did not know, Or his bone's, in the pond's painted show: "T'other dog," so he thought "Has got more than he ought," So he snapped, & his dinner saw go! ...
The Eagle flew off with a lamb; Then the Crow thought to lift an old ram, In his eaglish conceit, The wool tangled his feet, And the shepherd laid hold of the sham. ...
"Dig deeply, my Sons! through this field! There's a Treasure"--he died: unrevealed The spot where 'twas laid, They dug as he bade; And the Treasure was found in the yield. ...
The Fir-tree looked down on the Bramble. "Poor thing, only able to scramble About on the ground." Just then an axe' sound Made the Fir wish himself but a Bramble.
Prayed the Fish, as the Fisherman took Him, a poor little mite, from his hook, "Let me go! I'm so small." He replied, "Not at all! You're the biggest, perhaps in the brook." ...
I had four brothers over the sea, Perrie, Merrie, Dixi, Domine; And they each sent a present unto me. Petrum, Partrum, Paradisi, Tempore, Perrie, Merrie, Dixi, Domine. ...
You have heard how Sir Fox treated Crane: With soup in a plate. When again They dined, a long bottle Just suited Crane's throttle; And Sir Fox licked the outside in vain. ...
Said sly Fox to the Crow with the cheese, "Let me hear your sweet voice, now do please!" And this Crow, being weak, Cawed the bit from her beak-- "Music charms," said the Fox, "and here's cheese!" ...
This Fox has a longing for grapes, He jumps, but the bunch still escapes. So he goes away sour; And, 'tis said, to this hour Declares that he's no taste for grapes.
The first time the Fox had a sight Of the Lion, he 'most died of fright; When he next met his eye, Fox felt just a bit shy; But the next--quite at ease, & polite.
A Fox with his foot on a Mask, Thus took the fair semblance to task; "You're a real handsome face; But what part of your case Are your brains in, good Sir! let me ask?"
Being plagued with Mosquitoes one day, Said old Fox, "pray don't send them away, For a hungrier swarm Would work me more harm; I had rather the full ones should stay." ...