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A legal instrument without a flaw.

The Edict of the King was executed;

From various Species Spokesmen were deputed.

The Foxes all and some

Staying religiously at home

One of their Family explained the reason

Of what might have an air of treason:

"The footprints on the sand,"" [sic]he said,

"Of those who have their visits paid

Towards the Cave present an obvious track,

But nothing in the shape of coming back:

This certainly seems rather queer

And gives our Race some grounds for fear.

Although the King perhaps would kindly use us,

In this affair he really must excuse us.

The Passport looks all right—but then—

I see in fact

With Certitude exact

How people get within the Den;

But how a single soul gets out again

Is not so plain."

(La Fontaine, Fables, Vol. VI, No. 14. Translated by Paul Hookham.)

THE ANIMALS SICK WITH THE PLAGUE

NE of those scourges which Heaven's righteous wrath

Invented for the crimes of Earth—

The Plague, if one must call

The visitation by its hideous name—