All bellow'd out twas very sad bi amba 'Sure never stuff was half so bad!'.. • That like a Pig!'-each cried in scoff, 'Pshaw! Nonsense! Blockhead off! off! off!' The Mimic was extoll'd; and Grouse Was hiss'd, and cat-call'd from the house. Quoth honest Hodge and, stooping low, • Behold, and learn from this poor creature, FABLE XIX. THE CAMELEON. By the Rev. James Merrick. OFT has it been my lot to marko i Returning from his finish'd tour, 'Sir, if my judgment you'll allow—'; A fish's head, a serpent's tongue; Its foot with triple claw disjoin'd; 'And what a length of tail behind! 'How slow its pace, and then its hue,'Who ever saw so fine a blue?' 'Hold there,' the other quick replies, "Tis green-I saw it with these eyes, As late with open mouth it lay, ' And warm'd it in the sunny ray; Stretch'd at its ease the beast I view'd, 'I've seen it, Sir, as well as you, "Tis green, 'tis green, Sir, I assure ye. 'Green!' cries the other in a fury as do me y 'Why, Sir,-d'ye think I've lost my eyes? So high at last the contest rose, 2 4 'Sirs,' cries the umpire, cease your pother— 'The creature's neither one nor t'other. 'I caught the animal last night, 'And view'd it o'er by candle light: 'I mark'd it well-'twas black as jet'You stare-but, Sirs, I've got it yet, 'And can produce it.' Pray, Sir, do : 'I'm confident the thing is blue.' And I'll be bound, that, when you've seen 'The reptile, you'll pronounce him green.' Well, then, at once to ease the doubt,' Replies the man, 'I'll turn him out: 'And, when before your eyes I've set him, 'If you don't find him black, I'll eat him.' He said, then full before their sight, Produc'd the beast, and, lo! 'twas-white.Both star'd, the man look'd wondrous wise 'My children,' the Cameleon cries, (Then first the creature found a tongue) You all are right, and all are wrong : you view, • When next you talk of what FABLE XX. THB BEARS AND THE BEES. By Merrick, As two young Bears in wanton mood, Alarm'd at this, the little crew Th' unequal combat, quit the plain, With greedy haste we snatch our fill, FABLE XXI. THE APE, THE PARROT, AND THE JACKDAW. By William Wilkie, D.D. I HOLD it rash, at any time, To deal with fools dispos'd to rhime They hate and scorn you as a traitor, What will you do when teaz'd and dunn'd? |