The Dog in the River

IV. THE DOG IN THE RIVER

The churl that wants another’s fare

Deserves at least to lose his share.

As through the stream a Dog convey’d

A piece of meat, he spied his shade

In the clear mirror of the flood,

And thinking it was flesh and blood,

Snapp’d to deprive him of the treat:—

But mark the glutton’s self-defeat,

Miss’d both another’s and his own,

Both shade and substance, beef and bone.

PHÆDRUS.