Page:Florian - The Fables, 1888.djvu/91

Even a touch of arrogance,
That springs from your o'erweening pride,
Rather than any thing beside."
The grasshopper not even deign'd
To make reply when thus arraign'd,
But forthwith from his old home flew,
       To seek a new.
When finally two days were o'er,
He'd made two hundred steps or more,
And fancied that at last he'd found
The end of this world's farthest bound.
The land seem'd new, the people strange,
The wheat-fields offer'd a fine range,
       And fill'd him with delight.
Their long stalks waving in the wind,
Gave welcome to his troubl'd mind;
       It was a glorious sight!
"Here then," he cried, "all trouble past,
I've found security at last.
No more shall enemies invade
My peace within this friendly shade."
              But lo!
When o'er the east spread morning's glow,
A band of reapers came along,
With laugh, and jest, and merry song,
And 'neath their sickles fell the grain
All level with the naked plain;
And to the view the spot disclos'd,
Where our unfortunate repos'd.
"There 'tis again!" the insect cried,