The Hare and Many Friends

   Friendship, like love, is but a name,

  Unless to one you stint¹ the flame;

  The child whom many fathers share

  Hath seldom known a father's care.

  'Tis thus in friendships; who depend

  On many, rarely find a friend.

 

    A Hare, who in a civil way

  Complied with everything, like Gay,

  Was known by all the bestial² train

  Who haunt the wood or graze the plain;

  Her care was never to offend,

  And every creature was her friend.

    As forth³ she went at early dawn,

  To taste the dew-besprinkled lawn,

  Behind she hears the hunter's cries,

  And from the deep-mouthed thunder flies.

  She starts, she stops, she pants for breath;

  She hears the near advance of death;

  She doubles to mislead the Hound,

  And measures back her mazy round,

  Till, fainting in the public way,

    Half dead with fear she gasping⁴ lay.

    What transport in her bosom⁵ grew

  When first the Horse appeared in view!

    "Let me," says she, "your back ascend⁶.

  And owe my safety to a friend.

  You know my feet betray my flight;

  To friendship every burden's light,"

  The Horse replied, "Poor honest Puss,

  It grieves my heart to see you thus:

  Be comforted, relief is near,

  For all your friends are in the rear."

    She next the stately Bull implored⁷;

  And thus replied the mighty⁸ lord:

    "Since every beast alive can tell

  That I sincerely wish you well,

  I may without offence pretend

  To take the freedom of a friend.

  Love calls me hence; a fav'rite Cow

  Expects me near the barley-mow,

  And when a lady's in the case

  You know all other things give place.

  To leave you thus might seem unkind;

  But see, the Goat is just behind."

    The Goat remarked her pulse was high,

  Her languid head, her heavy eye.

    "My back," says she, "may do you harm.

  The Sheep's at hand, and wool is warm."

    The Sheep was feeble, and complained

  His sides a load of wool sustained:

  Said he was slow, confessed his fears;

  For Hounds eat Sheep as well as Hares.

    She now the trotting⁹ Calf¹⁰ addressed

  To save from death a friend distressed¹¹.

    "Shall I," says he, "of tender age,

  In this important care engage?

  Older and abler passed you by—

  How strong are those; how weak am I!

  Should I presume to bear you hence,

  Those friends of mine may take offence;

  Excuse me, then; you know my heart,

  But dearest friends, alas¹²! must part.

  How shall we all lament¹³! Adieu!

  For see, the Hounds are just in view."

1 stint   

v.节省，限制，停止；n.舍不得化，节约，限制；连续不断的一段时间从事某件事

参考例句：

• He lavished money on his children without stint.他在孩子们身上花钱毫不吝惜。
• We hope that you will not stint your criticism.我们希望您不吝指教。

2 bestial   

adj.残忍的；野蛮的

参考例句：

• The Roman gladiatorial contests were bestial amusements.罗马角斗是残忍的娱乐。
• A statement on Amman Radio spoke of bestial aggression and a horrible massacre. 安曼广播电台播放的一则声明提到了野蛮的侵略和骇人的大屠杀。

3 forth   

adv.向前；向外，往外

参考例句：

• The wind moved the trees gently back and forth.风吹得树轻轻地来回摇晃。
• He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。

4 gasping   

adj. 气喘的, 痉挛的 动词gasp的现在分词

参考例句：

• He was gasping for breath. 他在喘气。
• "Did you need a drink?""Yes, I'm gasping!” “你要喝点什么吗？”“我巴不得能喝点！”

5 bosom   

n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的

参考例句：

• She drew a little book from her bosom.她从怀里取出一本小册子。
• A dark jealousy stirred in his bosom.他内心生出一阵恶毒的嫉妒。

6 ascend   

vi.渐渐上升，升高；vt.攀登，登上

参考例句：

• We watched the airplane ascend higher and higher.我们看着飞机逐渐升高。
• We ascend in the order of time and of development.我们按时间和发展顺序向上溯。

7 implored   

恳求或乞求（某人）( implore的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• She implored him to stay. 她恳求他留下。
• She implored him with tears in her eyes to forgive her. 她含泪哀求他原谅她。

8 mighty   

adj.强有力的；巨大的

参考例句：

• A mighty force was about to break loose.一股巨大的力量即将迸发而出。
• The mighty iceberg came into view.巨大的冰山出现在眼前。

9 trotting   

小跑，急走( trot的现在分词 )； 匆匆忙忙地走

参考例句：

• The riders came trotting down the lane. 这骑手骑着马在小路上慢跑。
• Alan took the reins and the small horse started trotting. 艾伦抓住缰绳，小马开始慢跑起来。

10 calf   

n.小牛，犊，幼仔，小牛皮

参考例句：

• The cow slinked its calf.那头母牛早产了一头小牛犊。
• The calf blared for its mother.牛犊哞哞地高声叫喊找妈妈。

11 distressed   

痛苦的

参考例句：

• He was too distressed and confused to answer their questions. 他非常苦恼而困惑，无法回答他们的问题。
• The news of his death distressed us greatly. 他逝世的消息使我们极为悲痛。

12 alas   

int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等)

参考例句：

• Alas!The window is broken!哎呀！窗子破了！
• Alas,the truth is less romantic.然而，真理很少带有浪漫色彩。

13 lament   

n.悲叹，悔恨，恸哭；v.哀悼，悔恨，悲叹

参考例句：

• Her face showed lament.她的脸上露出悲伤的样子。
• We lament the dead.我们哀悼死者。