A Poetical Translation Of The Fables of Phaedrus With The Appendix of Gudius, And an accurate Edition of the Original on the opposite Page. To which is added, A Parsing Index For the Use of Learners. By Christopher Smart |
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II. | FABLE II. The Thief and the Travellers. |
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![]() | A Poetical Translation Of The Fables of Phaedrus | ![]() |
189
FABLE II. The Thief and the Travellers.
Two men equipp'd were on their way,
One fearful, one without dismay
An able fencer—As they went,
A robber came with black intent,
Demanding, upon pain of death,
Their gold and silver in a breath.
At which the man of spirit drew,
And instantly disarm'd and slew
The Thief, his honour to maintain—
Soon as the rogue was fairly slain,
The tim'rous chap began to puff,
And drew his sword, and stripp'd in buff—
“Leave me alone with him, stand back,
“I'll teach him whom he should attack.”
Then he who fought, “I wish, my friend,
“But now you'd had such words to lend;
“I might have been confirm'd the more,
“Supposing truth to all you swore,
“Then put your weapon in the sheath,
“And keep your tongue within your teeth,
“Tho' you may play an actor's part,
“On them who do not know your heart,
“I, who have seen this very day
“How lustily you run away,
“Experience, when one comes to blows,
“How far your resolution goes.”
One fearful, one without dismay
An able fencer—As they went,
A robber came with black intent,
Demanding, upon pain of death,
Their gold and silver in a breath.
At which the man of spirit drew,
And instantly disarm'd and slew
The Thief, his honour to maintain—
Soon as the rogue was fairly slain,
The tim'rous chap began to puff,
And drew his sword, and stripp'd in buff—
“Leave me alone with him, stand back,
“I'll teach him whom he should attack.”
Then he who fought, “I wish, my friend,
“But now you'd had such words to lend;
“I might have been confirm'd the more,
“Supposing truth to all you swore,
“Then put your weapon in the sheath,
“And keep your tongue within your teeth,
“Tho' you may play an actor's part,
“On them who do not know your heart,
191
“How lustily you run away,
“Experience, when one comes to blows,
“How far your resolution goes.”
This narrative to those I tell,
Who stand their ground, when all is well;
But in the hour of pressing need
Abash'd, most shamefully recede.
Who stand their ground, when all is well;
But in the hour of pressing need
Abash'd, most shamefully recede.
![]() | A Poetical Translation Of The Fables of Phaedrus | ![]() |