The Fox And Crane.

Once two persons uninvited     Came to join my dinner table;     For the nonce they lived united,     Fox and crane yclept in fable.     Civil greetings pass'd between us     Then I pluck'd some pigeons tender     For the fox of jackal-genius,     Adding grapes in full-grown splendour.     Long-neck'd flasks I put as dishes     For the crane, without delaying,     Fill'd with gold and silver fishes,     In the limpid water playing.     Had ye witness'd Reynard planted     At his flat plate, all demurely,     Ye with envy must have granted:     "Ne'er was such a gourmand, surely!"     While the bird with circumspection     On one foot, as usual, cradled,     From the flasks his fish-refection     With his bill and long neck ladled.     One the pigeons praised, the other,     As they went, extoll'd the fishes,     Each one scoffing at his brother     For preferring vulgar dishes.     *        *        *     If thou wouldst preserve thy credit,     When thou askest folks to guzzle     At thy hoard, take care to spread it     Suited both for bill and muzzle.