The Lion Going To War.

[1]      The lion had an enterprise in hand;      Held a war-council, sent his provost-marshal,      And gave the animals a call impartial -      Each, in his way, to serve his high command.      The elephant should carry on his back      The tools of war, the mighty public pack,      And fight in elephantine way and form;      The bear should hold himself prepared to storm;      The fox all secret stratagems should fix;      The monkey should amuse the foe by tricks.      'Dismiss,' said one, 'the blockhead asses,      And hares, too cowardly and fleet.'      'No,' said the king; 'I use all classes;      Without their aid my force were incomplete.      The ass shall be our trumpeter, to scare      Our enemy. And then the nimble hare      Our royal bulletins shall homeward bear.'      A monarch provident and wise      Will hold his subjects all of consequence,      And know in each what talent lies.      There's nothing useless to a man of sense.