The Frog Who Wanted to Be as Big as the Ox

A Frog once saw an Ox
Who seemed to her of handsome size.
She, no bigger than an egg,
Stretched with envy, puffed, and strained,

Saying: “Look well, sister dear;
Is this enough? Am I there yet?"
"Not at all.” “How about now?” “Not a bit.” “And now?"
"You’re not even close.”

The wretched creature
Puffed herself up so much she burst.

The world is full of folk no wiser:
Every townsman builds like lords,
Every petty prince has ambassadors,
Every marquis wants his pages.