Page:Florian - The Fables, 1888.djvu/76

Th' invention of this art belongs
To folks once skill'd in all such wrongs,
The subtle Greeks, who—may they get
All the reward for't due them yet!

This art an old fox once profess'd;—
Its perfect master stood confess'd.
He kept a school to teach the way,
And took fat pullets for his pay.
One of his pupils aim'd to be
A lawyer of the first degree,
And for tuition did agree
Of case first gain'd to give the fee.
In legal form the two compact;
Sign'd, seal'd, deliver'd is the act.
But when the course of study's done,
The pupil for injunction sues;
Declares he owes his master none
Of all the pullets claim'd for dues.
The leopard, learned in the laws,
Presides as judge to hear the cause.
"May't please the court," the pupil cried,
"If my case's gain'd, I need not pay;
For so your honor will decide;
And we the sentence must obey.
And if I lose, why, nothing's due,
For the conditions plainly say,
'Tis only if I win I pay.
Such is the law I apprehend;
I would not, truly, wrong my friend."