, to mislead the hound,
And measures back her mazy round;
Till, fainting in the public way,
Half dead with fear, she gasping lay:--
What transport in her bosom grew,
When first the Horse appeared in view!

"Let me," says she, "your back ascend,
And owe my safety to a friend;
You know my feet betray my flight;
To friendship, ev'ry burthen's light."

The Horse replied,--"Poor, honest Puss!
It grieves my heart to see thee thus:
Be comforted,--relief is near;
For all our friends are in the rear."

She next the stately Bull implored,
And thus replied the mighty lord:--
"Since every beast alive can tell,
That I sincerely wish you well,
I may, without offence, pretend
To take the freedom of a friend.
Love calls me hence; a favourite cow
Expects me near yon barley-mow;
And when a lady's in the case,
You know, all other things give place.
To leave you thus may seem unkind;
But see,--the Goat is just behind."

The Goat remarked her pulse was high;
Her languid head, her heavy eye;
"My back," says she, "may do you harm;
The Sheep's at hand, and wool is warm."

The Sheep was feeble, and complained,
His sides a load of wool sustained;
Said he was slow; confessed his fears;
For Hounds eat Sheep as well as Hares.

She now the trotting Calf addressed,
To save from death a friend distressed.
"Shall I," says he, "of tender age,
In this important care engage?
Older and abler pass you by;
How strong are those! how weak am I!
Should I presume to bear you hence,
Those friends of mine may take offence.
Excuse me, then,--you know my heart;
But dearest friends, alas! must part.
How shall we all lament!--Adieu!
For see, the Hounds are just in view."

MORAL.

Friendships are single: who depend
On many rarely find a friend.

FABLE LXXII.

THE COCK AND THE FOX.

A COCK, being perched among the branches of a lofty tree, crowed
aloud, so that the shrillness of his voice echoed through the
wood and invited a Fox to the place, who was prowling in that
neighbourhood in quest of his prey. But Reynard, finding the Cock
was inaccessible by reason of the height of his situation, had
recourse to stratagem in order to decoy him down. So, approaching
the tree, "Cousin," says he, "I am heartily glad to see you; but
at the sa