82 SELECT POETRY

And for our warlike arms we sought the mead,
And guns and spears we made of brittle reed:
Then, in uncouth array, our feats to crown,
We stormed some ruined pig-stye for a town.
Kirke White.

THE HARE AND THE TORTOISE.

A FORWARD hare, of swiftness vain,
The genius of the neighbouring plain,
Would oft deride the drudging crowd ;—
For geniuses are ever proud.
He'd boast his flight ’twere vain to follow,
For dog and horse he'd beat them hollow ;—
Nay, if he put forth all his strength,
Outstrip his brethren half a length.
A tortoise heard his vain oration,
And vented thus his indignation :

*O puss! it bodes thee dire disgrace
When I defy thee to the race.
Come, ‘tis a match; nay, no denial,
I lay my shell upon the trial.”
*T was ‘ done ’ and ‘ done,’ ¢ all fair,’ ‘a bet,”?
Judges prepared, and distance set.
The scampering hare outstripped the wind;
The creeping tortoise lagged behind,
And scarce had passed a single pole
When puss had almost reached the goal.?

' Done, &c.—~terms used on the race-course,
* Goul—the point to which racers run.