The Two Mules
Fable de Jean de la Fontaine
 Fables of la Fontaine > Book I > The Two Mules |
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| Two mules were bearing on their backs, One, oats; the other, silver of the tax. The latter glorying in his load, Marched proudly forward on the road; And, from the jingle of his bell, It was plain he liked his burden well. But in a wild-wood glen A band of robber men Rushed forth on the twain. Well with the silver pleased, They by the bridle seized The treasure-mule so vain. Poor mule! in struggling to repel His ruthless foes, he fell Stabbed through; and with a bitter sighing, He cried, "Is this the lot they promised me? My humble friend from danger free, While, weltering in my gore, I'm dying?" "My friend," his fellow-mule replied, "It is not well to have one's work too high. If you had been a miller's drudge, as I, You would not thus have died." |
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