Page:Fables by La Fontaine translated by Elizur Wright.djvu/77

 BOOK ONE. 9 It ought to be a precious price Which could to servile chains entice ; For me, I '11 shun them while I Ve wit.' So ran Sir Wolf, and runneth yet. VI. THE HEIFER, THE GOAT, AND THE SHEEP, IN COMPANY WITH THE LION."' The heifer, the goat, and their sister, the sheep, Compacted their earnings in common to keep, 'T is said, in time past, with a lion, who swayed Full lordship o'er neighbours, of whatever grade. The goat, as it happened, a stag having snared, Sent off to the rest, that the beast might be shared. All gathered ; the lion first counts on his claws, And says, * We Ml proceed to divide with our paws The stag into pieces, as fixed by our laws.' This done, he announces part first as his own ; ' 'Tis mine,' he says, * truly, as lion alone.' To such a decision there 's nought to be said, As he who has made it is doubtless the head. 'T is mine, be it known, by the right of the strong. Again, as the bravest, the third must be mine. To touch but the fourth whoso maketh a sign, I '11 choke hirti to death In the space of a breath ! '
 * Well, also, the second to me should belong ;