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Our earnest wish, I hope and trust, is

The guiltiest should pay this debt of justice."

"Sire," said the Fox, "you have too good a heart—

Such scruples show it;

But, as for eating Sheep—why, for my part,

I see no sin in that—the stupid brutes!

You do them too much honour, if they knew it,

As for the shepherd, if your taste he suits,

Why, I can safely say, by Nation's laws,

He well deserves to reap the righteous fruits

Of men's preposterous claim to hold dominion

Over us free-born beasts. That's my opinion."

So spoke the Fox; and flatterers hummed applause.

It was not safe to probe too close the offences

Of the great nobles there.

Tiger or Bear,

Against whose life there might have been complaints;

All for their deeds found very fair pretences,

Down to the very Dogs that chased a Hare,

To hear them talk, they were four-footed saints.

The Ass in turn advanced to make confession:

"I mind me once," said he,

When that the devil of hunger took possession

Of poor unhappy me,

I passed a grassy mead

Belonging to some monks, and in my need

(It was so tempting) I just took one bite—

A mouthful—I confess it was not right."

All with one voice cried out upon the thief.