Page:Fables by La Fontaine translated by Elizur Wright.djvu/83

 BOOK ONE. 15 It was a slight rat-tat That put their joys to rout : Out ran the city rat ; His guest, too, scampered out. Our rats but fairly quit, The fearful knocking ceased. ' To-morrow dine with me. I 'm not offended at Your feast so grand and free, — But then I eat at leisure, And would not swap for pleasure So mixed with fear and trembling.' X. THE WOLF AND THE LAMB." That innocence is not a shield, A story teaches, not the longest. The strongest reasons always yield To reasons of the strongest.
 * Return we,' cried the cit,
 * To finish there our feast.'
 * No,' said the rustic rat ;
 * For I 've no fare resembling ;