Page:Fables by La Fontaine translated by Elizur Wright.djvu/188

   One thing alone the rat perplexed, —
   He was but moderate as a swimmer.
   The frog this matter nicely fixed
      By kindly lending him her
   Long paw, which with a rush she tied
   To his; and off they started, side by side.
   Arrived upon the lakelet's brink,
   There was but little time to think.
The frog leaped in, and almost brought her
Bound guest to land beneath the water.
   Perfidious breach of law and right!
      She meant to have a supper warm
      Out of his sleek and dainty form.
   Already did her appetite
   Dwell on the morsel with delight.
   The gods, in anguish, he invokes;
   His faithless hostess rudely mocks;
   He struggles up, she struggles down.
      A kite, that hovers in the air.
      Inspecting everything with care,
Now spies the rat belike to drown,
      And, with a rapid wing,
      Upbears the wretched thing.
The frog, too, dangling by the string!
The joy of such a double haul
Was to the hungry kite not small.
It gave him all that he could wish, —
A double meal, of flesh and fish.