Krĭlov.

An ass a nightingale espied, And shouted out, “Holla! holla! good friend! “Thou art a first-rate singer, they pretend:— Now let me hear thee, that I may decide; I really wish to know—the world is partial ever— If thou hast this great gift, and art indeed so clever.” The nightingale began her heavenly lays; Through all the regions of sweet music ranging, Varying her song a thousand different ways; Rising and falling, lingering, ever changing: Full of wild rapture now—then sinking oft To almost silence—melancholy, soft As distant shepherd’s pipe at evening’s close:— Strewing the wood with lovelier music;—there All nature seems to listen and repose: No zephyr dares disturb the tranquil air:— All other voices of the grove are still, And the charm’d flocks lie down beside the rill. The shepherd like a statue stands—afraid His breathing may disturb the melody, His finger pointing to the harmonious tree, Seems to say, “Listen!” to his favourite maid. The singer ended:—and our critic bow’d His reverend head to earth, and said aloud:— “Now that’s so so;—thou really hast some merit; Curtail thy song, and critics then might hear it; Thy voice wants sharpness:—but if Chanticleer Would give thee a few lessons, doubtless he Might raise thy voice and modulate thy ear; And thou in spite of all thy faults mayst be A very decent singer.”—— The poor bird In silent modesty the critic heard, And winged her peaceful flight into the air, O’er many and many⁠[2] a field and forest fair. There are too many such critics now-a-days. Merciful heaven! protect us from their praise.

If harmony be wanting to your plans, Vain are your efforts, yours, or any man’s; They end in disappointment all alike. I once observed a Swan, a Crab, a Pike, Drawing a treasure; all their power, their will Exerted, yet it stood unmoved and still. ’Tis not its weight, its weight was very little; Three powers at work, it budges not a tittle: The Swan would fain soar upwards in its pride, The Crab draws back, the Pike to the water side. Who of the three was wrong? and who was right? It might be all—it might be none—it might!