XXI. The Old Lion

Whoever, to his honor’s cost,

His pristine dignity has lost,

Is the fool’s jest and coward’s scorn,

When once deserted and forlorn.

With years enfeebled and decay’d,

A Lion gasping hard was laid:

Then came, with furious tusk, a boar,

To vindicate his wrongs of yore:

The bull was next in hostile spite,

With goring horn his foe to smite:

At length the ass himself, secure

That now impunity was sure,

His blow too insolently deals,

And kicks his forehead with his heels.

Then thus the Lion, as he died:

“’Twas hard to bear the brave,” he cried;

“But to be trampled on by thee

Is Nature’s last indignity;

And thou, O despicable thing,

Giv’st death at least a double sting.”

Riley