The
Oak
and
its
Branches
.
A
Fable
.
Occasion'd
by
seeing
a
dead
Oak
beautifully
encompass'd
with
Ivy
.
An
Oak
,
with
spreading
Branches
crown'd
,
Beheld
an
Ivy
on
the
Ground
,
Expos'd
to
ev'ry
trampling
Beast
,
That
roam'd
around
the
dreary
Waste
.
The
Tree
of
Jove
,
in
all
his
State
,
With
Pity
view'd
the
Ivy's
Fate
;
And
kindly
told
her
,
She
should
find
Security
around
his
Rind
:
Nor
was
that
only
his
Intent
,
But
to
bestow
some
Nourishment
.
The
Branches
saw
,
and
griev'd
to
see
Some
Juices
taken
from
the
Tree
.
Parent
,
say
they
,
in
angry
Tone
,
Your
Sap
should
nourish
us
alone
:
Why
should
you
nurse
this
Stranger
Plant
,
With
what
your
Sons
,
in
time
,
may
want
;
May
want
,
to
raise
us
high
in
Air
,
And
make
us
more
distinguish'd
there
.
'Tis
well
—
the
Parent-Tree
reply'd
;
Must
I
,
to
gratify
your
Pride
,
Act
only
with
a
narrow
View
Of
doing
Good
to
none
but
you
?
Know
,
Sons
,
tho'
Jove
hath
made
me
great
,
I
am
not
safe
from
Storms
of
Fate
.
Is
it
not
prudent
then
,
I
pray
,
To
guard
against
another
Day
?
Whilst
I'm
alive
,
You
crown
my
Head
;
This
graces
me
alive
,
and
dead
.