The Weasel nation, like the Cats, Are always fighting with the Rats; And did the Rats not squeeze their way Through doors so narrow, I must say, The long-backed creatures would slip in, And swallow all their kith and kin. One certain year it did betide, When Rats were greatly multiplied, Their king, illustrious Ratapon, His army to the field led on. The Weasels, too, were soon arrayed, And the old flag again displayed. If Fame reported just and true, Victory paused between the two; Till fallows were enriched and red With blood the rival armies shed; But soon in every place Misfortune met the Rattish race. The rout was so complete, the foe More dreadful grew at every blow; And what avails brave Artapax, Meridarpax, Psicarpax? Who, covered both with dust and gore, Drove back the Weasels thrice and more, Till driven slowly from the plain, E'en their great courage proved in vain! 'Twas Fate that ruled that dreadful hour: Then each one ran who had the power; Soldier and captain, jostling fled, But all the princes were struck dead; The private, nimble in his feet, Unto his hole made snug retreat. The noble, with his lofty plume, Found that he had by no means room. To strike with terror--yes, or whether A mark of honour--rose the feather, That led to much calamity, As very soon the nobles see; Neither in cranny, hole, or crack, Was space found for the plumed pack. In the meantime, the populace Found access to each lurking-place, So that the largest heap of slain From the Rat noblemen is ta'en. A nodding feather in the cap Is oftentimes a great mishap; A big and over-gilded coach Will sometimes stop up an approach; The smaller people, in most cases, Escape by unregarded places: Men soon are on great people's traces. [Illustration] [Illustration] FABLE LXXVII. THE CAMEL AND THE DRIFT-WOOD. The first who saw a real live Camel Ran for his life; the second ventured near; The third, with ready rope, without a fear, Made a strong halter the wild thing to trammel. Habit has power to quickly change Things that at first seem odd and strange; Stale they grow, and quickly tame, And hardly seem to be the same. And since the question's open, once there stood A look-out watching all the distant flood; And seeing something far off on the ocean, Could not conceal his notion It was a man-of-war; a moment past It turned a fire ship, all ataunt and brave, Then a big boat, and next a bale, and last Some mere drift timber jostling on the wave. How many things watched by the world agree In this--that far away you see That there is something, yet when sought, And seen still nearer, it proves nought. [Illustration] [Illustration]