FOOTNOTES: 

[Footnote 7:  La Fontaine forgets.  It was Galatea whose image Pygmalion created and whom Venus brought to life.]

XXVII

THE OYSTER AND THE PLEADERS

(Book IX.—­No. 9)

One day two pilgrims espied upon the sands of the shore an oyster that had been thrown up by the tide.  They devoured it with their eyes whilst pointing at it with their fingers; but whose teeth should deal with it was a matter of dispute.

When one stopped to pick up the prey the other pushed him away saying:  “It would be just as well first to decide which of us is to have the pleasure of it.  He who first saw it should swallow it, and let the other watch him eat.”

“If you settle the affair that way,” replied his companion, “I have good eyes, thank God.”

“But my sight is not bad either,” said the other, “and I saw it before you did, and that I’ll stake my life upon.”

“Well, suppose you did see it, I smelt it.”

During this lively interlude Justice Nincompoop arrived on the scene, and to him they appealed to judge their claims.  The justice very gravely took the oyster, opened it, and put it into his mouth, whilst the two claimants looked on.  Having deliberately swallowed the oyster, the justice, in the portentous tones of a Lord Chief Justice, said, “The court here awards each of you a shell, without costs.  Let each go home peaceably.”

Reckon what it costs to go to law in these days.  Then count what remains to most families.  You will see that Justice Nincompoop draws all the money and leaves only the empty purse and the shells to the litigants.

[Illustration:  Deliberately swallowed the oyster.]

XXVIII

THE CAT AND THE FOX

(Book IX.—­No. 14)

The cat and the fox, in the manner of good little saints, started out upon a pilgrimage.  They were both humbugs, arch-hypocrites, two downright highwaymen, who for the expenses of their journey indemnified themselves by seeing who could devour the most fowls and gobble the most cheese.

The way was long and therefore wearisome, so they shortened it by arguing.  Argumentation is a great help.  Without it one would go to sleep.  Our pilgrims shouted themselves hoarse.  Then having argued themselves out, they talked of other things.

At length the fox said to the cat, “You pretend that you’re very clever.  Do you know as much as I?  I have a hundred ruses up my sleeve.”

“No,” answered the cat, “I have but one; but that is always ready to hand, and I maintain that it is worth a thousand other dodges.”

Then they fell again to disputing one against the other on each side of the question, the whys and the wherefores, raising their voices higher and higher.  Presently the sudden appearance of a pack of hounds stopped their noise.