Explore "The Crow and the Turkey" by Tomás de Iriarte on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
A bitter contest once did spring, -- / No matter how the fact I know, -- / On their respective speed of wing, / Between a Turkey and a Crow.
Which first would reach the appointed station, / Sure you can tell, as well as I, / Without much grave consideration, / If you have ever seen them fly.
"Look here," the loitering Turkey cries / To Crow, half vanished out of view; / "The thought will to my mind arise / That you are black and ugly too.
Moreover, I have always heard," -- / She shouts still louder after him, -- / "You are a most unlucky bird, / Foreboding naught but evils grim.
Begone from sight, disgusting beast!
You fairly do my stomach turn; / Making your foul, revolting feast / On carrion corpse that dogs would spurn."
"All this is nothing to the case,"
Answered the Crow, far off in air; / "The only question now in place / Is of our flight a trial fair."
When envious detractors find / In wise men's works, no welcome faults, / They satisfy their spiteful mind / By base and personal assaults.