THE COCK AND THE JEWEL.
Reading edition
THE COCK AND THE JEWEL.
A cock there was: a sage was he
(If Esop we may trust,)
Who wish'd to make a meal, you see,
As other sages must.
With this intent, as heretofore,
When on the hunt for grain;
Our hero scratch'd the litter o'er
With all his might and main.
But scarce a minute had he scratch'd,
When, to his great surprise,
A gem, with golden chain attach'd,
He saw with both his eyes.
"Alack!" quoth he, "what have we here?
A diamond, I protest!
Which lords and ladies buy so dear,
And hold in such request.
"But one good barley-corn to me
Has more intrinsic worth
Than all the pearls now in the sea,
Or gold now in the earth."
MORAL.
The moral here, in Esop's mind,
Was this, there's not a doubt:
Things have most value, which we find
We cannot do without.
