The Old Lion

Whoever, to his honor's cost, His pristine dignity has lost, Is the fool's jest and coward's scorn, When once deserted and forlorn. With years enfeebled and decay'd, A Lion gasping hard was laid: Then came, with furious tusk, a boar, To vindicate his wrongs of yore: The hull was next in hostile spite, With goring horn his foe to smite: At length the ass himself, secure That now impunity was sure, His blow too insolently deals, And kicks his forehead with his heel. Then thus the Lion, as he died: "'Twas hard to bear the brave," he cried; But to be trampled on by thee Is Nature's last indignity; And thou, 0 despicable thing, Giv'st death at least a double sting."