FAVOURITE FABLES. 49

FABLE XXXVIII.
THE HERMIT AND THE BEAR.

ONCE on a time, a mountain Bear
Lived in a forest drear, with no Bears near him;
Fat, fierce, and sulky.

Nor man nor other. beast approached his lair ;
His neighbours all despise, or hate, or fear him.
*Tis good to talk—to hold one’s tongue—

Though either in excess be wrong:
Our hermit bulky,

So shaggy, sullen, taciturn, and rude,

Bear as he was, grew sick of solitude.

At the same time, by chance, retired
Far from the world, a man advanced in age,
But stout and healthy.
Not with devotion’s flame his heart was fired ;
Not prayer and fasting occupied the sage ;
Though on mankind he shut his door,
No vows of poverty he swore:
The wight was wealthy.
But by some treacherous friend, or fair, betrayed,

He lived with plants, and communed with his spade.
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