ABOUT a home that Socrates was building
Arose discussion. None approved his plan:
The lack of moulding, panelling and gilding
Did little honour to so great a Man.
Then the façade was plain; and all
Agreed that the Apartments were too small.
To these objections, urged in courteous style,
Socrates answered with a placid smile:
"Such as it is, pray Heaven it be
Filled with true friends," said he.
(La Fontaine, Fables, Vol. IV, No. 17. Translated by Paul Hookham.)
THE HARE'S EARS
IT chanced that some unruly horrid beast
Had gored the Lion King;
Who, hot with wrath at such a monstrous thing.
Vowed to secure himself henceforth at least,
And issued strict command,
All creatures that wore horns should quit his land.
Goats, Rams and Bulls decamped that very day;
The Stags sought change of air;
Of all his long- and short-horned subjects there.
None lost an hour in getting safe away.
The Hare, a timid creature,
Caught sight in shadow of his poor long Ears,
