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The Fables of La Fontaine, Tr. [in Verse, Mainly by R. Thomson].
The Fables of La Fontaine Tr - in Verse, Mainly by R. Thomson Author:Jean de La Fontaine General Books publication date: 2009 Original publication date: 1884 Notes: This is a black and white OCR reprint of the original. It has no illustrations and there may be typos or missing text. When you buy the General Books edition of this book you get free trial access to Million-Books.com where you can select from more than a million book... more »s for free. Excerpt: " I'm quite surprised," she said ; " this hole, I know, I passed through, sure, five or six days ago! " A rat, who saw her in her trouble, said, " Your body was then lanky like your snout; You entered lean, and lean you must get out." This case applies to many, I'm afraid; But let us not such things confound, By diving into matters too profound. Jable 18. THE CAT AND OLD RAT. I In some fabulist have read the fame Of Rodilard, the second of that name, Great Alexander, Attila of cats, The scourge and terror of both mice and rats, Who finally reduced them to despair: I've read, I say, I don't remember where, That this exterminating cat was feared A league around, where mice his actions heard. To them a Cerberus his dreadful face, As if he meant to root out all the race: Rat-poisons, traps, and all discoveries new, Were sport to what great Rodilard could do. Now as he turned the matter in his mind, And saw the mice all prisoners, confined Within their holes, such terror had he spread, He hanged himself, pretending to be dead. Downward his head suspended from a board, But the rogue's claws held fast a hidden cord. The mice applauding, now together thronged, Thought he was strung for stealing roast or cheese, For some one murdered, scratched to death, or wronged. " Tucked up at last," they cried, " for crimes like these ! " But all agreed to have a day of mirth, When Rodilard was buried in the earth. They showed their heads, and cried, " Fine news for cats! " Ran in again to tell it to the rats. Cf. ii. 2. i'. iAgain they ventured out, four steps or so, At last for food ...« less