Kingdoms, I think, not quite unknown to Fame."
"Truly I never heard the name
Of either place, that I can call to mind,"
Replies Sir Gil; "the fact is,
In Heaven 'tis not our practise
To pay much heed to matters of that kind."
Abashed and mortified,
The Elephant conceals his wounded pride.
"What then," says he, "your presence here invites?"
"I came," Gil answers, "to install
Two Ants in their just rights
As to a Blade of Grass they seek to share.
Our Providence takes thought for all:
No Earthly Power can shake its even hand.
Its equal current stem;
And as to your affair.
The Gods but weigh it as a grain of sand
For small is great and great is small with Them."
(La Fontaine, Fables, Vol. XII, No. 21. Translated by Paul Hookham.)
FAR out at sea
A Cargo of dried Sage met Madam Tea,
Sailing for France from China. "Ah, good day,
And whither bound, fair foreigner, I pray?"
"Europe, of course, my dear; I'm quite the rage
With all its population, low or high:
