FABLE
[
20
]
XX
.
The
Old
Hen
and
the
Cock
.
REstrain
your
child
;
you'll
soon
believe
The
text
,
which
says
,
we
sprung
from
Eve
.
As
an
old
Hen
led
forth
her
train
,
And
seem'd
to
peck
to
show
the
grain
;
She
rak'd
the
chaff
,
she
scratch'd
the
ground
,
And
glean'd
the
spacious
yard
around
.
A
giddy
chick
,
to
try
her
wings
,
On
the
well's
narrow
margin
springs
,
And
prone
she
drops
.
The
mother's
breast
All
day
with
sorrow
was
possest
.
A
Cock
she
met
;
her
son
she
knew
,
And
in
her
heart
affection
grew
.
My
son
,
says
she
,
I
grant
your
years
Have
reach'd
beyond
a
mother's
cares
;
I
see
you
vig'rous
,
strong
and
bold
,
I
hear
with
joy
your
triumphs
told
;
'Tis
not
from
cocks
thy
fate
I
dread
:
But
let
thy
ever-wary
tread
Avoid
yon
well
;
that
fatal
place
Is
sure
perdition
to
our
race
.
Print
this
my
counsel
on
thy
breast
;
To
the
just
Gods
I
leave
the
rest
.
He
thank'd
her
care
;
yet
day
by
day
His
bosom
burn'd
to
disobey
,
And
every
time
the
well
he
saw
Scorn'd
in
his
heart
the
foolish
law
;
Near
and
more
near
each
day
he
drew
,
And
long'd
to
try
the
dang'rous
view
.
Why
was
this
idle
charge
?
he
crys
:
Let
courage
female
fears
despise
.
Or
did
she
doubt
my
heart
was
brave
,
And
therefore
this
injunction
gave
?
Or
does
her
harvest
store
the
place
,
A
treasure
for
her
younger
race
?
And
would
she
thus
my
search
prevent
?
I
stand
resolv'd
,
and
dare
th'
event
.
Thus
said
.
He
mounts
the
margin's
round
,
And
prys
into
the
depth
profound
.
He
stretch'd
his
neck
;
and
from
below
With
stretching
neck
advanc'd
a
foe
;
With
wrath
his
ruffled
plumes
he
rears
,
The
foe
with
ruffled
plumes
appears
;
Threat
answer'd
threat
,
his
fury
grew
,
Headlong
to
meet
the
war
he
flew
;
But
when
the
watry
death
he
found
,
He
thus
lamented
,
as
he
drown'd
.
I
ne'er
had
been
in
this
condition
But
for
my
mother's
prohibition
.