Read "The Hack Mule" by Tomás de Iriarte online for free on Textopian. Full text with search, annotations, highlights, and AI-powered reading aids.
Full fed and antic, / A Hack Mule pushed / With speed so frantic / Forth from her stable, / That her rider / Scarcely was able / With rein to guide her.
Half our journey / Not long will bide her / In such a race.
But the false jade / Now slacks her pace.
What trouble now?
Go on! Perhaps / The spur will do.
What, no? Then taps / Of this light rod / Or harder raps / From pointed goad.
Both are, I find, / In vain bestowed.
How! out of wind!
With ready heels / She kicks behind, / And bites and squeals.
What a curvette!
She jumps and reels.
You devil's pet, / With hand and foot / We'll try you yet.
Upon her belly / Down she flounders, -- / Here sprawling flat.
A murrain foul / Seize on your soul!
Amen to that!
The Mule, that work begins / With such capers, / Is not the mule for me; / And, whene'er I see / That any author vapors / Too much of his intent, -- / At once, I say, "Beware!
Good friend, pray have a care / Of this mule's predicament. "