The Hares and The Stag

THE burthen fitted to the back,
Who can deny, altho' a hack?
Yet from the peasant to the 'squire,
And by gradations go still higher,
If thought of change we entertain,
'Tis quickly given up again.
        Two HARES were sitting tête à tête,
Apparently in high debate:
One cry'd--"We never shall agree,
"But if you chang'd, what would you be?"
"Beyond a doubt," the other said,
"A Stag, with horns upon my head."

        A man just then was passing by,
Whose wife was frail, and very shy--
"If you think horns so mighty fine,
"Friend," murmur'd he, "you may have mine."
        "Where are they then?" reply'd the Hare,
Casting his eyes behind to stare;
And both Hares turn'd towards the spot,
They saw the man, but horns saw not;
His agitation was so great,
It shew'd his mind's disorder'd state.
        A sigh preceded his reply:--
"At Doctors' Commons there they lie;
"I'd give a thousand pounds, or two,
"That ev'ry creature saw like you:
"But man, by looking in my face,
"Knows well the cause of my disgrace."
        All this desultory discourse
Might still have lasted, but a horse,
Alas! there was the huntsman too,
And all the yelping pack in view.

        The Hares sat off upon the prance,
And led the dogs a curious dance;
Yet t'escape had no pretence,
Had not a Stag just leap'd his fence,
Hares may return from whence they came,
When once in view a nobler game.
Thus was the Stag an hour pursu'd,
Till ruthless hounds his blood imbue'd.
        The Hares, who from a neighb'ring hill
Beheld what pass'd, sat wond'rous still,
And softly one to t'other said--
"The Stag with horns upon his head
"Is not so safe as you and me,
"Which proves how foolish wishes be:
"The dogs left us, the Stag to chace,
"Or we had suffer'd in his place.
"That oft is best which least we prize;
"Then wish not to increase your size;
"That you are small, esteem good luck,
"The biggest mark is soonest struck.

"And man himself, you see complain'd
"Of some great evil he sustain'd.
"But as to horns, 'tis very true,
"I saw them not, no more than you:
" 'Twas apparent he despis'd them;
"You lack'd judgment when you priz'd them."
        The Hare, who found he'd all along
Egregiously been in the wrong,
Said--"I see now extremely plain,
"Just what one is, one should remain;
"What we have not, we can't compare;
"And what we have, we learn to bear.
"I'll not complain, nor will I brag,
"Or wish again to be a Stag."

MORAL.

Oft we reverse a happy lot,
By not enjoying what we've got.
And those who envy most excite,
Ask them, they'll say, all is not right.

Original fables by a Lady

Printed by W. Calvert, Shire Lane, Lincoln's Inn, for B. Crosby and Co. London, 1810

To your Royal Highness the following Fables are dedicated, with a wish that in an interval of leisure some transient amusement may be obtained.