The Lion in Love

Aesop’s Fable (47)

Love slays the mightiest heart; it does.

The barbarous jaws, eager paws,

And eyes with tremendous fire,

A lion ties no calendar or laws,

He kills in East and wounds in Shire!

Once ages ago, a lion fell in love

And demanded woodcutter’s daughter.

Ah! but the love was not any above

Of mere infatuation for the slaughter.

‘I want your girl as my wife’

Said the blind lion to the poor man,

For whom it was on his life

To deny the proposal of mighty insane!

‘Lust like glutton dies.’

The witty woodcutter found a way.

With humble guise in voice, he said:

‘O lion, my daughter fears the play

‘Of your sharp teeth and claws, so made

‘A pleading- you let me take out

‘The agents of fear- the teeth and claws

‘And she will end her fearful bout

‘To swear with you the marriage vows.’

The wanton, the lewd, without any delay,

Was ready for his Pride and Life

To be very easily taken away,

For nothing but a ‘mere’ wife!

Losing thus the pearl, the clam went

Without guessing the certain loss

That fate for him would invent.

Days passed, the lion came

Back with his demand with pride,

Alas! He returned with guilt and shame

Instead of smiles, gain and ‘mere’ bride!

Sunday, 10 November 2013