THE COCK AND THE PEARL
A COCK scratched up one day
A Pearl of purest ray
Which to a jeweller he bore,
"I think it fine," he said,
"But yet a crumb of bread
To me were worth a great deal more."
So did a dunce inherit
A manuscript of merit
Which to a publisher he bore,
"'Tis good," he said, "I'm told,
Yet any coin of gold
To me were worth a great deal more."
(La Fontaine, Fables, Vol. I, No. 20. Translated by Elizur Wright, Jr.)
THE OAK AND THE REED
THE Oak one day said to the Reed,
"Good cause have you your hapless lot to mourn.
To you a clinging Wren's a load indeed;
The least wind that is born.
Ruffling the stream, bids you take heed
To make obeisance low;
While my proud top, for Caucasus a match.
The arrowy sun-shafts not content to catch.
