Page:Fables by La Fontaine translated by Elizur Wright.djvu/111



 You, wolf, in short, as bringing groundless charge,

You, fox, as guilty of it.'

Come at it right or wrong, the judge opined

No other than a villain could be fined.8 

IV.

THE TWO BULLS AND THE FROG.9



Two bulls engaged in shocking battle,

Both for a certain heifer's sake,

And lordship over certain cattle.

A frog began to groan and quake.

'But what is this to you?'

Inquired another of the croaking crew.

'Why, sister, don't you see,

The end of this will be

That one of these big brutes will yield,

And then be exiled from the field?

No more permitted on the grass to feed,

He'll forage through our march, on rush and reed;

And while he eats or chews the cud,

Will trample on us in the mud.

Alas! to think how frogs must suffer

by means of this proud lady heifer!'

This fear was not without good sense.

One bull was beat, and much to their expense;