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"Ah!" cried he in wonder,

"How comes this to pass?

Who will now dare to slander

The skill of an Ass?"

And Asses in plenty,

I see at a glance

Will, one time in twenty.

Succeed by mere chance.

(Iriarte, Literary Fables. Translated by T. Roscoe.)

THE BEAR AND THE MONKEY

BEAR, with whom a Piedmontese

Joined company, to earn their bread,

Essayed on half his legs to please

The public, where his master led.

With looks that boldly claimed applause.

He asked the Ape, "Sir, what think you?"

The Ape was skilled in dancing-laws

And answered, "It will never do!"

"You judge the matter wrong, my friend,"

Bruin rejoined, "You are not civil!

Were these legs given for you to mend

The ease and grace with which they swivel?"