THE TWO LIONS, THE WOLF, AND THE SHEEP. 



A FABLE FOB THE LORDS. 



AN Irish wolf had long been used to reap, 

 A pretty decent harvest from a sheep ; 

 Had claimed a tenth of pasture, turnips, food 

 Of every kind the sheep accounted good ; 

 And emulous to seem a wolf of peace, / 

 Borrowed for Sunday wear the other's fleece. 

 Long time the sheep had grudg'd the monstrous ration, 

 And set his face against this decimation ; 

 Futile his bleatings vainly did he writhe, 

 The wolf looked black, and carried off the tithe. 



At length, the wretched sheep's assiduous cry, 

 Roused a young lion, who by chance was nigh : 

 " What riot's this, and why that rueful face ?" 

 The sheep takes heart, and plainly states his case j 

 The wolf deplores poor Mutton's want of grace. 



" Faith," quoth the lion to the wolf, " my friend, 

 Methinks 'tis time this state of things should end ; 

 The sheep, you see, is on resistance bent, 

 Take of your claim three-fifths, and be content.'* 

 With secret grief the wolf his loss deplores, 

 But wolves are silent when the lion roars. 

 "But come," resum'd the umpire, "let's abide 

 By what this ancient lion shali decide ; 

 Old, to be sure, he is, and lacks his teeth, 

 Nothing but upper-jaw, and jaw beneath; 

 But age should be respected whilst it lives, 

 And rank, hereditary wisdom gives." 

 * The wolf beholds his friend with wondrous glee, 

 As the old lion hobbles to the three. 



And now the case is argued o'er again, 

 The aged lion wisely shakes his mane. 

 " What ! take three-fifths, good wolf, and hope to thrive, 

 When you so long have laid your paw on five ? 

 For shame be resolute, or you're undone, 

 Stick to your point : you shall have all or none." 



The wolf looks foolish fumbles with his paw 

 " There'll be none here" " Pooh ! pooh ! the law the law" 

 " The law won't help me," urged the wolf, " I fear, 

 Look at the sheep and this young lion here." 

 " Nonsense !" cried lion senior, somewhat sore, 

 And cleared his throat, and vainly tried to roar. 

 The sheep, meanwhile, had wish'd the wolf good-day ; 

 The wolf look'd sheepish as he slunk away, 

 He nought to get, the other nought to pay. 



The aged lion waddled off content, 

 While lion junior chuckled as he went. 

 The former of his friendship vastly proud, 

 Who claim'd the pound of flesh by law allowed; 

 The latter speaking in an under tone, 



Of half a loaf which better is than none. O 



M. M. No. 105. 2 I 



