Aesop Dress'd :: :: University of Virginia Library

A cat, whose Sirname pretty hard was,
One Captain Felis Rodilardus
Had made so terrible a slaughter
Among the Rats; that little after
There's hardly one to shew his head,
Most part of 'em were maim'd or dead.
The few that yet had 'scap'd the Grave,
Liv'd in a subterranean Cave,
Where they sat thinking mighty dull,
With Bellies less than quarter full,
Not daring to stir out for fear
Of Rodilard, who's ev'ry where.
They tried a hundred ways to fun him:
But finding they could never shun him,
The Wretches look upon him, that
He's more a Devil than a Cat.
Once, when our am'rous Spark was gone
A hunting Wenches up and down,
The poor remainder to improve
The time their Enemy made love,
Assembl'd, and employ'd their Cares
About the straits of their Affairs.
Their President, a Man of Sence,
Told 'em, by long experience;
I know, the Captain used to come
In Ambush without beat of Drum.

Methinks, that if we could but hear him
We need not half so much to fear him:
And therefore, th'only way's to take
A Bell, and tie't about his Neck:
And then let him be ne'er so arch
He'll advertise us of his march.
His Council took, and every one
Was of the same Opinion;
Sure nothing better could be done.
But pray, says one, who is to tie it;
For I desire not to be nigh it.
How! cries another, tie the Bell,
I dare draw all his Teeth as well.
A third, a fourth, all say the same,
And so they parted as they came.

The Moral.

Thus Cits advise what's to be done,
This way they should attack the Town;
Now here, then there, why don't they come?
So, often in a Coffee-room,
Where prudently they rule the Nation.
I've heard some Men of Reputation
Propose things which they dare as well
Perform, as Rats to tie the Bell.