The Works of Peter Pindar [i.e. John Wolcot] ... With a Copious Index. To which is prefixed Some Account of his Life. In Four Volumes |
 | I. |
| II. |
 | III. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
THE KNIGHT AND THE RATS. |
|
|
|
|
| IV. |
 | The Works of Peter Pindar [i.e. John Wolcot] |  |
THE KNIGHT AND THE RATS.
A KNIGHT liv'd in the west not long ago
Like knights in general, not o'erwise, I trow—
This knight's great barn was visited by rats,
In spite of poison, gins, and owls, and cats:
Like millers, taking toll of the sweet corn,
Carous'd they happily from night to morn.
Like knights in general, not o'erwise, I trow—
This knight's great barn was visited by rats,
In spite of poison, gins, and owls, and cats:
243
Carous'd they happily from night to morn.
Lo, waxing wrath, that neither gins nor cats,
Nor owls, nor poison, could destroy the rats;
‘I'll nab them by a scheme, by heav'ns,’ quoth he:
So of his neighbourhood he rous'd the mob,
Farmers and farmers' boys, to do this job;
His servants too of high and low degree;
And eke the tribes of dog, by sound of horn,
To kill the rats that dar'd to taste the corn.
Nor owls, nor poison, could destroy the rats;
‘I'll nab them by a scheme, by heav'ns,’ quoth he:
So of his neighbourhood he rous'd the mob,
Farmers and farmers' boys, to do this job;
His servants too of high and low degree;
And eke the tribes of dog, by sound of horn,
To kill the rats that dar'd to taste the corn.
This done, the knight, resolv'd with god-like ire,
Ran to his kitchen for a stick of fire,
From whence intrepid to the barn he ran;
Much like the Macedonian and fair punk,
Who, at Persepolis so very drunk,
Did with their links the mighty ruin plan.
Ran to his kitchen for a stick of fire,
From whence intrepid to the barn he ran;
Much like the Macedonian and fair punk,
Who, at Persepolis so very drunk,
Did with their links the mighty ruin plan.
Now, 'midst the dwelling flew the blazing stick:
Soon from the flames rush'd forth the rats so thick;
Men, dogs, and bats, in furious war unite—
The conquer'd rats lie sprawling on the ground;
The knight, with eyes triumphant, stares around,
Surveys the carnage, and enjoys the sight.
Soon from the flames rush'd forth the rats so thick;
Men, dogs, and bats, in furious war unite—
The conquer'd rats lie sprawling on the ground;
The knight, with eyes triumphant, stares around,
Surveys the carnage, and enjoys the sight.
Not ev'n Achilles saw, so blest, his blade
Dismiss whole legions to th' infernal shade!
Dismiss whole legions to th' infernal shade!
But, lo! at length by this rat-driving flame,
Burnt was the corn—the walls down thund'ring came;
The meaning of it was not far to learn—
When turning up those billiard-balls his eyes,
That held a pretty portion of surprise,
‘Zounds! what a blockhead! I have burnt the barn!’
Burnt was the corn—the walls down thund'ring came;
The meaning of it was not far to learn—
When turning up those billiard-balls his eyes,
That held a pretty portion of surprise,
‘Zounds! what a blockhead! I have burnt the barn!’
| The Works of Peter Pindar [i.e. John Wolcot] | |