This page has been validated.

THE SYCOPHANTIC FOX

AND

THE GULLIBLE RAVEN


A raven sat upon a tree,
And not a word he spoke, for
His beak contained a piece of Brie,
Or, maybe, it was Roquefort:
  We'll make it any kind you please—
  At all events, it was a cheese.

Beneath the tree's umbrageous limb
A hungry fox sat smiling;
He saw the raven watching him,
And spoke in words beguiling.
  "J' admire," said he, "ton beau plumage."
  (The which was simply persiflage.)

81