Wolf versus Fox before Judge Monkey
A wolf had been robbed, or so he pretended,
And named as beast to pay the penalty
A fox who lived near, who might well be suspected.
The judge was a monkey before whom the pair pleaded--
In person -- and neither was aided legally.
Themis had never heard justice so twisted
In a monkey's age of cases contested.
The bench sweat under the torrent of fallacies --
With points on each side exhaustively stated,
Bared, shrilled out, and debated.
The judge, aware of their propensities,
Said, "Friend, I am familiar with your history
And both of you will have to be fined;
Since you, wolf, weren't robbed and have not brought suit legitimately;
And you, fox, are a thief and stole something of some kind."
The judge maintained that whatever the facts were,
When you punish a rogue, you have not been too severe.
Return to Spanish 591a (LBA)