The Three Idlers of King Matthew Corvinus

There is an ancient saying—Idleness
Is the world's curse: and I have heard a story
Out of old time, instructive.

King Matthew once, half-tipsy, put three fellows—
Three idle fellows—in a house to fatten;
And fate, or forethought, set the house on fire.
"Ah! see, the house is burning!" cried the first;
"If the King want us," said the second knave,
"Why he will send and save us," In a rage,
"Your tongue is very glib," exclaimed the third;
And the house went on burning, and they perish'd.

O there are many idle dogs like these—
Many who open wide their lazy mouths,
And think that roasted ortolans will enter.