Classic Poem

A Lion, through infirmities
No longer fit his food to seize,
Lies down within his den and feigns
That death's about to end his pains.
The beasts come one by one to see,
Expressing heartfelt sympathy.
And Lion reaches forth a paw,
And tucks them well within his maw.
A Fox, who notes the trick, to save
His hams remains outside the cave,
Inquiring how he feels to-day.
" O fair to middling; but I pray,
Why won't you, Reynard, nearer walk
And here within sit down and talk? "
— " So many prints of feet I ken
That lead into your dusky den,
But none of any out again. "

MORAL

Well armed is he against surprises
Who learns from other folks' demises.