Columbia Library columns (v.9(1959Nov-1960May))

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  v.9,no.1(1959:Nov): Page [32]  



FABLE I.

THF,   WOLF  \yD   THE   L.\MIi.

By thirst incited, to the brook
The A\'olf and Lamb themselves betook.
The A\'olf high up the current drank.
The Lamb far low er down the bank.
Then, bent his rav'nous maw to cram,
The Wolf took umbrage at the Lamb.
"How dare you trouble all the flood,
"And mingle my good drink with mud?"
"Sir," says the Lambkin, sore afraid,
"How shou'd I act, as you upbraid?
"Tlic thing you mention cannot be,
"The stream descends from you to me."
Abash'd by facts, says he, "I know
" 'Tis now exact six months ago
"You strove my honest fame to blot"—
"Six months ago. Sir, I was not."
"Then 'twas th' old ram thy sire," he crv'd,
And so he tore him, till he dy'd.
To those this fable I address.
Who are determin'd to oppress,
And trump up any false pretence,
But they will injure innocence.
 

This version of the fable, which was written in Latin verse bv
Phaedrus of Macedonia in the ist century .A.I), and translated b\"
the English poor Christopher Smart for publication in 1765, is
printed here for comparison with Arthur Golding's stvlisticallv
different i6th century rendering as quoted in Professor Nelson's
article.
  v.9,no.1(1959:Nov): Page [32]