A barefoot scamp, both mean and sly,
  Soon after chanced this Dove to spy;
  And, being arm’d with bow and arrow,
    The hungry codger doubted not
    The bird of Venus, in his pot,
  Would make a soup before the morrow. 
  Just as his deadly bow he drew,
    Our Ant just bit his heel. 
    Roused by the villain’s squeal,
  The Dove took timely hint, and flew
    Far from the rascal’s coop—­
    And with her flew his soup.

  The Cock and the Fox

  Upon a tree there mounted guard
      A veteran Cock, adroit and cunning;
    When to the roots a Fox up running,
  Spoke thus, in tones of kind regard: 
    “Our quarrel, brother, ’s at an end;
    Henceforth I hope to live your friend;
        For peace now reigns
      Throughout the animal domains. 
    I bear the news—­come down, I pray,
      And give me the embrace fraternal;
    And please, my brother, don’t delay. 
      So much the tidings do concern all,
    That I must spread them far to-day. 
    Now you and yours can take your walks
    Without a fear or thought of hawks. 
  And should you clash with them or others,
  In us you’ll find the best of brothers;
    For which you may, this joyful night,
    Your merry bonfires light. 
      But, first, let’s seal the bliss
      With one fraternal kiss.” 
    The Cock replied, “Upon my word,
    A better thing I never heard;
      And doubly I rejoice
      To hear it from your voice;
    There really must be something in it,
  For yonder come two greyhounds, which I flatter
  Myself are couriers on this very matter. 
    They come so fast, they’ll be here in a minute. 
  I’ll down, and all of us will seal the blessing
    With general kissing and caressing.” 
    “Adieu,” said Fox; “my errand’s pressing;
      I’ll hurry on my way,
      And we’ll rejoice some other day.” 
  So off the fellow scampered, quick and light,
  To gain the fox-holes of a neighbouring height,
  Less happy in his stratagem than flight. 
    The Cock laugh’d sweetly in his sleeve—­
    ’Tis doubly sweet deceiver to deceive.

  The Wolf, the Goat, and the Kid

  As went a Goat of grass to take her fill,
  And browse the herbage of a distant hill,
      She latch’d her door, and bid,
      With matron care, her Kid;
      “My daughter, as you live,
        This portal don’t undo
        To any creature who
      This watchword does not give: 
    ’Deuce take the Wolf and all his race’!”
    The Wolf was passing near the place
  By chance, and heard the words with pleasure,
      And laid them up as useful treasure;
    And hardly need we mention,
    Escaped the Goat’s attention. 
        No sooner did he see
        The matron off, than he,
    With hypocritic tone and face,