Twins at each birth the female monkey bears,
Yet gives not them her love in equal shares.
For, by her illstarr'd fondness one opprest
Is kill'd with kindness in her rugged breast.
The other as a useless idiot thrown
Adrift, an outcast, thrives when left alone.
Men's natures oft are such, that friendliness
In them than hate is to be chosen less.
Source: Davies: Fables of Babrius = Babrius 35.
No comments:
Post a Comment