Part 9 (1/2)
A lion pursued by some villagers was asked by a fox why he did not escape on horseback.
”There is a fine strong steed just beyond this rock,” said the fox.
”All you have to do is to get on his back and stay there.”
So the lion went up to the charger and asked him to give him a lift.
”Certainly,” said the horse, ”with great pleasure.”
And setting one of his heels into the animal's stomach, he lifted him.
about seven feet from the ground.
”Confound you!” roared the beast as he fell back.
”So did you,” quietly remarked the steed.
LII.
A Mahout who had dismounted from his elephant, and was quietly standing on his head in the middle of the highway, was asked by the animal why he did not revert and move on.
”You are making a spectacle of yourself,” said the beast.
”If I choose to stand upside down,” replied the man, ”I am very well aware that I incur the displeasure of those who adhere with slavish tenacity to the prejudices and traditions of society; but it seems to me that rebuke would come with a more consistent grace from one who does not wear a tail upon his nose.”
This fable teaches that four straight lines may enclose a circle, but there will be corners to let.
LIII.
A dog meeting a strange cat, took her by the top of the back, and shook her for a considerable period with some earnestness. Then depositing her in a ditch, he remarked with gravity:
”There, my feline friend! I think that will teach you a wholesome lesson; and as punishment is intended to be reformatory, you ought to be grateful to me for deigning to administer it.”
”I don't think of questioning your right to worry me,” said the cat, getting her breath, ”but I should like to know where you got your licence to preach at me. Also, if not inconsistent with the dignity of the court, I should wish to be informed of the nature of my offence; in order that I may the more clearly apprehend the character of the lesson imparted by its punishment.”
”Since you are so curious,” replied the dog, ”I worry you because you are too feeble to worry me.”
”In other words,” rejoined the cat, getting herself together as well as she could, ”you bite me for that to which you owe your existence.”
The reply of the dog was lost in the illimitable field of ether, whither he was just then projected by the kick of a pa.s.sing horse. The moral of this fable cannot be given until he shall get down, and close the conversation with the regular apophthegm.