IX The Stag Seeing Himself in the Water11
Beside a placid, crystal flood,
A stag admired the branching wood
That high upon his forehead stood,
But gave his Maker little thanks
For what he call’d his spindle shanks.
‘What limbs are these for such a head!—
So mean and slim!’ with grief he said.
‘My glorious heads o’ertops
The branches of the copse;
My legs are my disgrace.’
As thus he talk’d, a bloodhound gave him chase.
To save his life he flew
Where forests thickest grew.
His horns,—pernicious ornament!—
Arresting him where’er he went,
Did unavailing render
What else, in such a strife,
Had saved his precious life—
His legs, as fleet as slender.
Obliged to yield, he cursed the gear
Which nature gave him every year.
Too much the beautiful we prize;
The useful, often, we despise:
Yet oft, as happen’d to the stag,
The former doth to ruin drag.