The poetical works of John Godfrey Saxe Household Edition : with illustrations |
 |
|
|
|
 |
THE BARN-YARD CRITICS.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 | The poetical works of John Godfrey Saxe |  |
THE BARN-YARD CRITICS.
YRIARTE.
A Pig and Sheep together slept
In the same farm-yard; and with these
A gallant Cock his vigils kept,—
Who, with his fellows, dwelt in peace.
In the same farm-yard; and with these
A gallant Cock his vigils kept,—
Who, with his fellows, dwelt in peace.
“A pleasant sort of life is this,”
The Porker said. “Say, Madam Sheep!
Is not the highest earthly bliss
To lie at ease, and eat and sleep?
The Porker said. “Say, Madam Sheep!
Is not the highest earthly bliss
To lie at ease, and eat and sleep?
“For me, I think the perfect leisure
And luxury in which we live,
Worth more than all the active pleasure
That men or gods have power to give!”
And luxury in which we live,
Worth more than all the active pleasure
That men or gods have power to give!”
The woolly dame has naught to say,—
Too meek to answer; though she tries,
While listening in a civil way,
To look (in vain!) extremely wise!
Too meek to answer; though she tries,
While listening in a civil way,
To look (in vain!) extremely wise!
But Chanticleer, who chanced to hear
These sage reflections, cocked his eye,
Gave a shrill crow his throat to clear,
And thus to Piggie made reply:—
These sage reflections, cocked his eye,
Gave a shrill crow his throat to clear,
And thus to Piggie made reply:—
“A sleepy life, I must confess,
Were very little to my taste;
To live—like you—in idleness,
Of time is, sure, a foolish waste.
Were very little to my taste;
To live—like you—in idleness,
Of time is, sure, a foolish waste.
“To rule the roost, and strut about,
That 's happiness, in my belief;
A little sleep is well, no doubt,
But, for oné's health, it should be brief.
That 's happiness, in my belief;
A little sleep is well, no doubt,
But, for oné's health, it should be brief.
“In fact, I 've tried it; and I find
One's slumbers should be always light;
Sleep surely stupefies the mind,
While watching makes it clear and bright.”
One's slumbers should be always light;
Sleep surely stupefies the mind,
While watching makes it clear and bright.”
While thus they argue, loud and long,
The patient Sheep has listened well;
But which is right and which is wrong
Is something more than she can tell.
The patient Sheep has listened well;
But which is right and which is wrong
Is something more than she can tell.
She little dreams the wranglers draw
(Like other critics, great and small)
Each from himself the narrow law
By which he seeks to govern all!
(Like other critics, great and small)
Each from himself the narrow law
By which he seeks to govern all!
| The poetical works of John Godfrey Saxe | |