The Lion and the Ass Hunting

The king of animals, with royal grace, / Would celebrate his birthday in the chase. / 'Twas not with bow and arrows, / To slay some wretched sparrows; / The lion hunts the wild boar of the wood, / The antlered deer and stags, the fat and good. / This time, the king, t' insure success, / Took for his aide-de-camp an ass, / A creature of stentorian voice, / That felt much honour'd by the choice. / The lion hid him in a proper station, / And order'd him to bray, for his vocation, / Assured that his tempestuous cry / The boldest beasts would terrify, / And cause them from their lairs to fly. / And, sooth, the horrid noise the creature made / Did strike the tenants of the wood with dread; / And, as they headlong fled, / All fell within the lion's ambuscade. / 'Has not my service glorious / Made both of us victorious? ' / Cried out the much-elated ass. / 'Yes,' said the lion; 'bravely bray'd! / Had I not known yourself and race, / I should have been myself afraid! ' / If he had dared, the donkey / Had shown himself right spunky / At this retort, though justly made; / For who could suffer boasts to pass / So ill-befitting to an ass? [1]

[1]: Phaedrus, I. 11: Aesop.