The Raven and the Fox

The Raven and the Fox

Original Text

The Fables of La Fontaine, trans. Elizur Wright, Jr. (London: William Smith, 1842): 1. Internet Archive

1  Perch'd on a lofty oak,
2    Sir Raven held a lunch of cheese;
3    Sir Fox, who smelt it in the breeze,
4        Thus to the holder spoke:--
5    Ha! how do you do, Sir Raven?
6    Well, your coat, sir, is a brave one!
7    So black and glossy, on my word, sir,
8With voice to match, you were a bird, sir,
9Well fit to be the Phœnix of these days.
10    Sir Raven, overset with praise,
11    Must show how musical his croak.
12    Down fell the luncheon from the oak;
13    Which snatching up, Sir Fox thus spoke:--
14        The flatterer, my good sir,
15        Aye liveth on his listener;
16        Which lesson, if you please,
17        Is doubtless worth the cheese.
18    A bit too late, Sir Raven swore
19The rogue should never cheat him more.
RPO poem Editors
Ian Lancashire
Data entry: Sharine Leung
RPO Edition
2012
Form
couplets