II The Earthen Pot and the Iron Pot4
An iron pot proposed
To an earthen pot a journey.
The latter was opposed,
Expressing the concern he
Had felt about the danger
Of going out a ranger.
He thought the kitchen hearth
The safest place on earth
For one so very brittle.
‘For thee, who art a kettle,
And hast a tougher skin,
There’s nought to keep thee in.’
‘I’ll be thy body-guard,’
Replied the iron pot;
‘If anything that’s hard
Should threaten thee a jot,
Between you I will go,
And save thee from the blow.’
This offer him persuaded.
The iron pot paraded
Himself as guard and guide
Close at his cousin’s side.
Now, in their tripod way,
They hobble as they may;
And eke together bolt
At every little jolt,—
Which gives the crockery pain;
But presently his comrade hits
So hard, he dashes him to bits,
Before he can complain.
Take care that you associate
With equals only, lest your fate
Between these pots should find its mate.