The Cuckoo and the Eagle

Kriloff’s Original Fables
The Eagle to a Cuckoo gave the rank
Which nightingales enjoy.
The Cuckoo, thus made great,
Sitting upon an ash in state, In music, majesty to thank,
Her talent did employ
;
She sings—and all fly ofF, Some roundly her abuse, and at her others scoff. Our Cuckoo was much grieved,
And ‘gainst the birds with plaint unto the Eagle
came.
” Can it, Great Sire, be believed That, when from thee I have received The right, to bear throughout the woods the name And rank of nightingale, within the same
They dare to mock my song ! ”
” Good friend ! ” replies the Eagle, ” I king am, and not God,
To free thee from thy woes to me doth not belong
;
A Cuckoo as a nightingale to honour and obey
I can oblige, but, if the power hath my nod
A nightingale to make out of a Cuckoo, say !”