A carefu' cowherd anes had lost
A calf, that him much seeking cost,
His labour vain, he near despair,
No means untry'd save that of prayer,
The last shift. When nought els will do,
Then to the gods at length we bow.
Thus did our herdsman, fill'd with grief,
Petition Jove to shew'm the thief
That with his calf had run away,
And he would on his altar lay
A kid. The fattest of the plain
Should for His Godship's use be slain.
His prayer reach'd the high abode.
"We hear thee," smiling cry'd the god.
"Have thy desire." — Straight in the place
A lion star'd him in the face.
The too rash clown now shook with fear,
To see the awfu' brute so near.
Then to his prayers he runs once more,
To unpray what he pray'd before.
"Great Jove," said he, "I know my vow,
But the unhappy wish I rew.
Remove the thief, an't be thy will,
And I shall make the kid a bull."
Thus mankind oft importune heaven
For what would ruine them, if given.
A carefu couherd yince haed loast
A cauf, that him much seekin coast,
His laubor vain, he near despair,
Nae means untried sauf that o prayer,
The last shift. When nocht els wull do,
Than til the gods at lenth we boo.
Thus did oor herdsman, filled wi grief,
Peteetion Jeuve ti shew'm the thief
That wi his cauf haed run away,
An he wad on his altar lay
A kid. The fattest o the plain
Shoud for His Godship's yiss be slain.
His prayer reaked the heich abod.
"We hear thee," smilin cried the god.
"Have thy desire." Straucht in the place
A lion stared him in the face.
The tae rash clawn noo shook wi fear,
Ti see the awfu bruit sae near.
Than til his prayers he runs yince more,
Ti unpray what he prayed afore.
"Gret Jeuve," sayd he, "Ah knaw ma voo,
But the unhappy wiss Ah rue.
Remuive the thief, an't be thy wull,
An Ah sall mek the kid a bull."
Thus mankind oft importune heiven
For what wad ruin thaim, yif gien.