FAVOURITE FABLES. SO

Print this, my counsel, on thy breast ;
To the just gods I leave the rest.”’

He thanked her care; yet, day by day,
His bosom burned to disobey ;
And every time the well he saw,
Scorned, in his heart, the foolish law;
Near and more near each day he drew,
And longed to try the dangerous view.

‘“‘ Why was this idle charge ?’’ he cries;
‘Let courage female fears despise!
Or did she doubt my heart was brave,
And, therefore, this injunction gave?
Or does her harvest store the place,
A treasure for her younger race ?
And would she thus my search prevent ?—
I stand resolved, and dare th’ event.’’

Thus said, he mounts the margin’s round,
And pries into the depth profound.
He stretched his neck; and, from below,
With stretching neck advanced a foe:
With wrath his ruffled plumes he ears;
The foe with ruffled plumes appears: