Truth in Fiction Or, Morality in Masquerade. A Collection of Two hundred twenty five Select Fables of Aesop, and other Authors. Done into English Verse. By Edmund Arwaker |
I. |
I. |
II. |
III. |
IV. |
V. |
VI. |
VII. | FABLE VII. The Oak and Reed: |
VIII. |
IX. |
X. |
XI. |
XII. |
XIII. |
XIV. |
XV. |
XVI. |
XVII. |
XVIII. |
XIX. |
XX. |
XXI. |
XXII. |
XXIII. |
XXIV. |
XXV. |
XXVI. |
XXVII. |
XXVIII. |
XXIX. |
XXX. |
XXXI. |
XXXII. |
XXXIII. |
XXXIV. |
XXXV. |
XXXVI. |
XXXVII. |
XXXVIII. |
XXXIX. |
XL. |
XLI. |
XLII. |
XLIII. |
XLIV. |
XLV. |
XLVI. |
XLVII. |
XLVIII. |
XLIX. |
L. |
LI. |
LII. |
LIII. |
LIV. |
LV. |
LVI. |
LVII. |
LVIII. |
LIX. |
LX. |
LXI. |
LXII. |
LXIII. |
LXIV. |
LXV. |
LXVI. |
LXVII. |
LXVIII. |
II. |
III. |
IV. |
Truth in Fiction | ||
FABLE VII. The Oak and Reed:
Or, The Bully slighted.
An
Oak, that much his Bulk and Stature priz'd,
And all his Fellows of the Wood despis'd,
Did haughtily a slender Reed defie,
And wish'd they might their Strength in Combat try:
To whom the Reed (regardless of his Pride,
And vain Bravado's) modestly reply'd;
The Challenge you have offer'd, I refuse,
Contented with the Weakness you abuse;
While pliantly I bend to ev'ry side,
I all the Rage of fiercest Storms deride;
But you who dare their Fury, I shall see
Soon levell'd with the Ground, and scorn'd by me.
And all his Fellows of the Wood despis'd,
Did haughtily a slender Reed defie,
And wish'd they might their Strength in Combat try:
To whom the Reed (regardless of his Pride,
And vain Bravado's) modestly reply'd;
The Challenge you have offer'd, I refuse,
Contented with the Weakness you abuse;
While pliantly I bend to ev'ry side,
I all the Rage of fiercest Storms deride;
But you who dare their Fury, I shall see
Soon levell'd with the Ground, and scorn'd by me.
11
The MORAL.
‘Courage is least in noisie Rant express'd,‘A modest Silence recommends it best:
‘Insulting Bravo's, who their Prowess boast,
‘Find it least helpful, when they need it most:
‘And they who give Affronts, less Honour gain,
‘Than they who pass them by with wise Disdain.
Truth in Fiction | ||