The poetical works of John Godfrey Saxe Household Edition : with illustrations |
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THE OIL-MERCHANT'S ASS.
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 | The poetical works of John Godfrey Saxe |  |
THE OIL-MERCHANT'S ASS.
YRIARTE.
An Ass, whose customary toil
Was bearing heavy sacks of oil
(The kind which often serves, at night,
Our houses, shops, and streets to light),
His labor over for the day,
Straight to his stable took his way;
But, as he sought to enter there,
The groping donkey, unaware,
Against the door-hasp hit his nose;
Whereat his indignation rose
To such a pitch, he roundly swore,
(As many an ass has done before!)
And thus, in wrath, expressed his mind:
“By Jove! one might as well be blind,
As break his noddle in the dark
For want of light! A single spark
Had saved my skin; but not a ray
My master gives to light my way.
I, who for others daily toil,
And fill a thousand lamps with oil,
For lack of one—so justice goes!—
Against the door must break my nose!”
Was bearing heavy sacks of oil
(The kind which often serves, at night,
Our houses, shops, and streets to light),
His labor over for the day,
Straight to his stable took his way;
But, as he sought to enter there,
The groping donkey, unaware,
Against the door-hasp hit his nose;
Whereat his indignation rose
To such a pitch, he roundly swore,
(As many an ass has done before!)
And thus, in wrath, expressed his mind:
“By Jove! one might as well be blind,
As break his noddle in the dark
For want of light! A single spark
Had saved my skin; but not a ray
My master gives to light my way.
I, who for others daily toil,
And fill a thousand lamps with oil,
For lack of one—so justice goes!—
Against the door must break my nose!”
MORAL.
The miser, who, to gather pelfFor thankless heirs, defrauds himself;
The ignoramus, proud to show
His gilded volumes all a-row,—
Such men as these may we not class
(Poor donkeys!) with the Oilman's Ass!
| The poetical works of John Godfrey Saxe | |