The Sparrow and the Hare

104. THE SPARROW AND THE HARE. A hare being seized by an eagle, squeaked out in a most woeful manner. A sparrow that sat upon a tree just by, and saw it, could not forbear being unseasonably witty, but called out and said to the hare, “So ho! What, sit there and be killed? Prithee, up and away; I dare say, if you would but try, so swift a creature as you are would easily escape from the eagle.”
As he was going on with his cruel raillery, down came a hawk, and snapped him up, and, notwithstanding his vain cries and lamentations, fell a devouring of him in an instant.
The hare, who was just expiring, yet received comfort from this accident, even in the agonies of death, and addressing her last words to the sparrow, said, “You, who just now insulted my misfortunes with so much security, as you thought, may please to show us how well you can bear the like, now it has befallen you.’ [more info]

The Sparrow and the Hare

1.09. THE SPARROW AND THE HARE. Let us show, in a few lines, that it is unwise to be heedless of ourselves, while we are giving advice to others.
A Sparrow upbraided a Hare that had been pounced upon by an Eagle, and was sending forth piercing cries. “Where now,” said he, “is that fleetness for which you are so remarkable? Why were your feet thus tardy?” While he was speaking, a Hawk seizes him unawares, and kills him, shrieking aloud with vain complaints. The Hare, almost dead, as a consolation in his agony, exclaimed: “You, who so lately, free from care, were ridiculing my misfortunes, have now to deplore your own fate with as woful cause.” [more info]

The Hare and the Sparrow

1.09. THE HARE AND THE SPARROW.
Still to give cautions, as a friend,
And not one’s own affairs attend,
Is but impertinent and vain,
As these few verses will explain.
A Sparrow taunted at a Hare
Caught by an eagle high in air,
And screaming loud— “Where now,” says she,
“Is your renown’d velocity?
Why loiter’d your much boasted speed?”
Just as she spake, an hungry glede
Did on th’ injurious railer fall,
Nor could her cries avail at all.
The Hare, with its expiring breath,
Thus said: “See comfort ev’n in death!
She that derided my distress
Must now deplore her own no less.” [more info]

The Hare and the Partridge

05.17: THE HARE AND THE PARTRIDGE.
Beware how you deride
The exiles from life's sunny side:
To you is little known
How soon their case may be your own.
On this, sage Aesop gives a tale or two,
As in my verses I propose to do.
A field in common share
A partridge and a hare,
And live in peaceful state,
Till, woeful to relate!
The hunters' mingled cry
Compels the hare to fly.
He hurries to his fort,
And spoils almost the sport
By faulting every hound
That yelps upon the ground.
At last his reeking heat
Betrays his snug retreat.
Old Tray, with philosophic nose,
Snuffs carefully, and grows
So certain, that he cries,
'The hare is here; bow wow!'
And veteran Ranger now,—
The dog that never lies,—
'The hare is gone,' replies.
Alas! poor, wretched hare,
Back comes he to his lair,
To meet destruction there!
The partridge, void of fear,
Begins her friend to jeer:—
'You bragg'd of being fleet;
How serve you, now, your feet?'
Scarce has she ceased to speak,—
The laugh yet in her beak,—
When comes her turn to die,
From which she could not fly.
She thought her wings, indeed,
Enough for every need;
But in her laugh and talk,
Forgot the cruel hawk!
[more info]

The Sparrow and the Hare

2.57. THE SPARROW AND THE HARE. A Hare, being seized by an Eagle, squeaked out in a most woeful manner. A Sparrow that sat upon a tree just by and saw it, could not forbear being unseasonably witty, but called out, and said to the Hare: "So ho! what! sit there and be killed? Pr'ythee, up and away; I dare say, if you would but try, so swift a creature as you are would easily escape from the Eagle." As he was going on with his cruel raillery, down came a Hawk, and snapt him up; and, notwithstanding his vain cries and lamentations, fell a devouring of him in an instant. The Hare, who was just expiring, yet received comfort from this accident, even in the agonies of death; and, addressing her last words to the Sparrow, said: "You, who just now insulted my misfortune with so much security, as you thought, may please to shew us how well you can bear the like, now it has befallen you."
MORAL. The mutability of human affairs is such, that no situation, however seemingly advantageous, ought to make us jest with the misfortunes of others. [more info]

The Hare and the Partridge

014. THE HARE AND THE PARTRIDGE.
A field in common share
A partridge and a hare,
And live in peaceful state,
Till, woeful to relate!
The hunters' mingled cry
Compels the hare to fly.
He hurries to his fort,
And spoils almost the sport
By faulting every hound
That yelps upon the ground.
At last his reeking heat
Betrays his snug retreat.
Old Tray, with philosophic nose,
Snuffs carefully, and grows
So certain, that he cries,
'The hare is here; bow wow!'
And veteran Ranger now,—
The dog that never lies,—
'The hare is gone,' replies.
Alas! poor, wretched hare,
Back comes he to his lair,
To meet destruction there!
The partridge, void of fear,
Begins her friend to jeer:—
'You bragg'd of being fleet;
How serve you, now, your feet?'
Scarce has she ceased to speak,—
The laugh yet in her beak,—
When comes her turn to die,
From which she could not fly.
She thought her wings, indeed,
Enough for every need;
But in her laugh and talk,
Forgot the cruel hawk!
[more info]