68

FAVOURITE FABLES.

Forbid it, heavens! reject the rein,
Your shame, your infamy disdain.
Let him the Lion first control,

And still the Tiger’s famished growl!
Let us, like them, our freedom claim;
And make him tremble at our name.”’

A general nod approved the cause,
And all the circle neighed applause ;
When, lo! with grave and solemn pace,
A Steed advanced before the race,
With age and long experience wise;
Around he casts his thoughtful eyes,
And, to the murmurs of the train,
Thus spoke the Nestor of the plain :—

““When I had health and strength, like you,
The toils of servitude I knew.
Now, grateful man rewards my pains,
And gives me all these wide domains.
At will I crop the year’s increase ;
My latter life is rest and peace.
I grant, to man we lend our pains, °
And aid him to correct the plains.
But doth not he divide the care,
Through all the labours of the year ?