FABLE
[
50
]
L.
The
Hare
and
many
Friends
.
FRiendship
,
like
love
,
is
but
a
name
,
Unless
to
one
you
stint
the
flame
.
The
child
,
whom
many
fathers
share
,
Hath
seldom
known
a
father's
care
;
'Tis
thus
in
friendships
;
who
depend
On
many
,
rarely
find
a
friend
.
A
Hare
,
who
,
in
a
civil
way
,
Comply'd
with
ev'ry
thing
,
like
Gay
,
Was
known
by
all
the
bestial
train
,
Who
haunt
the
wood
,
or
graze
the
plain
:
Her
care
was
,
never
to
offend
,
And
ev'ry
creature
was
her
friend
.
As
forth
she
went
at
early
dawn
To
taste
the
dew-besprinkled
lawn
,
Behind
she
hears
the
hunter's
cries
,
And
from
the
deep-mouth'd
thunder
flies
;
She
starts
,
she
stops
,
she
pants
for
breath
,
She
hears
the
near
advance
of
death
,
She
doubles
,
to
mis-lead
the
hound
,
And
measures
back
her
mazy
round
;
'Till
,
fainting
in
the
publick
way
,
Half
dead
with
fear
she
gasping
lay
.
What
transport
in
her
bosom
grew
,
When
first
the
horse
appear'd
in
view
!
Let
me
,
says
she
,
your
back
ascend
,
And
owe
my
safety
to
a
friend
,
You
know
my
feet
betray
my
flight
,
To
friendship
ev'ry
burthen's
light
.
The
horse
reply'd
,
poor
honest
puss
,
It
grieves
my
heart
to
see
thee
thus
;
Be
comforted
,
relief
is
near
;
For
all
your
friends
are
in
the
rear
.
She
next
the
stately
bull
implor'd
;
And
thus
reply'd
the
mighty
lord
.
Since
ev'ry
beast
alive
can
tell
That
I
sincerely
wish
you
well
,
I
may
,
without
offence
,
pretend
To
take
the
freedom
of
a
friend
;
Love
calls
me
hence
;
a
fav'rite
cow
Expects
me
near
yon
barley
mow
:
And
when
a
lady's
in
the
case
,
You
know
,
all
other
things
give
place
.
To
leave
you
thus
might
seem
unkind
;
But
see
,
the
goat
is
just
behind
.
The
goat
remark'd
her
pulse
was
high
,
Her
languid
head
,
her
heavy
eye
;
My
back
,
says
he
,
may
do
you
harm
;
The
sheep's
at
hand
,
and
wool
is
warm
.
The
sheep
was
feeble
,
and
complain'd
,
His
sides
a
load
of
wool
sustain'd
,
Said
he
was
slow
,
confest
his
fears
;
For
hounds
eat
sheep
as
well
as
hares
.
She
now
the
trotting
calf
addrest
,
To
save
from
death
a
friend
distrest
.
Shall
I
,
says
he
,
of
tender
age
,
In
this
important
care
engage
?
Older
and
abler
past
you
by
;
How
strong
are
those
!
how
weak
am
I
!
Should
I
presume
to
bear
you
hence
,
Those
friends
of
mine
may
take
offence
.
Excuse
me
then
.
You
know
my
heart
.
But
dearest
friends
,
alas
,
must
part
!
How
shall
we
all
lament
!
Adieu
.
For
see
the
hounds
are
just
in
view
.