Now that a thrush should take this fancy,
Without much marvelling I can see;—
But it is truly monstrous, when
Men, who are held as learned men.
All books, whate'er they be, despise.
Unless of largest bulk and size.
A book is great, if good at all,—
If bad—it cannot be too small.
(Iriarte, Literary Fables. Translated by John Balfour.)
THE SCRUPULOUS CATS
TWO Cats, old Tortoise-back and Kate,
Once from a spit a capon ate.
It was a giddy thing, be sure.
And one they could not hide nor cure.
They licked themselves, however, clean,
And then sat down behind a screen.
And talked it over. Quite precise.
They took each other's best advice.
Whether to eat the spit, or no?
"And did they eat it?""Sir, I trow.
They did not!They were honest things.
Who had a conscience and knew how it stings!"
(Felix Maria de Samaniego. From Spanish Literature, by George Ticnor.)
