The Talking Beasts_ A Book of Fable Wisdom - Nora Archibald Smith

    And as  she flapped her vasty   wings   to  fly,

            Struck  down    our orator  and stilled him—

            The wonder  is  she hadn't  killed  him.

    The Beetle  soon,   of  sweet   revenge in  quest

            Flew    to  the old,    gnarled mountain    oak,

    Which   proudly bore    that    haughty Eagle's nest.

                    And while   the bird    was gone,

            Her eggs,   her cherished   eggs,   he  broke,

                                    Not sparing one.

    Returning   from    her flight, the Eagle's cry

    Of  rage    and bitter  anguish filled  the sky,

            But,    by  excess  of  passion blind,

            Her enemy   she failed  to  find.

    Her wrath   in  vain,   that    year    it  was her fate

    To  live    a   mourning    mother, desolate.

    The next,   she built   a   loftier nest;   'twas   vain;

    The Beetle  found   and dashed  her eggs    again.



            John    Rabbit's    death   was thus    avenged anew.

    The second  mourning    for her murdered    brood

    Was such    that    through the giant   mountain    wood,

            For six long    months, the sleepless   echo    flew.

                    The bird,   once    Ganymede,   now made

                    Her prayer  to  Jupiter for aid;

    And,    laying  them    within  his godship's   lap,

    She thought her eggs    now safe    from    all mishap;

    The god his own could   not but make    them—

    No  wretch  would   venture there   to  break   them.

                    And no  one did.    Their   enemy,  this    time,

                    Upsoaring   to  a   place   sublime,

            Let fall    upon    his royal   robes   some    dirt,

            Which   Jove    just    shaking,    with    a   sudden  flirt,

            Threw   out the eggs,   no  one knows   whither.

                    When    Jupiter informed    her how th' event

                    Occurred    by  purest  accident,

    The Eagle   raved;  there   was no  reasoning   with    her;

            She gave    out threats of  leaving court,

            To  make    the desert  her resort,

            And other   brav'ries   of  this    sort.