Pretty Lessons in Verse for Good Children; with Some Lessons in Latin, in Easy Rhyme. By Sara Coleridge. The Fourth Edition, with Many Cuts |
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THE MOUSE'S RETALIATION. |
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 | Pretty Lessons in Verse |  |
THE MOUSE'S RETALIATION.
“O, you naughty nibbling Mouse!
Quick begone, and leave the house!
Tiresome noises which you make
Keep poor dear Mama awake.
Quick begone, and leave the house!
Tiresome noises which you make
Keep poor dear Mama awake.
“Then, beside your wicked scratching,
You've a paltry trick of snatching
Food intended for the house,—
Go your ways, you thievish Mouse!”
You've a paltry trick of snatching
Food intended for the house,—
Go your ways, you thievish Mouse!”
Thus should Master Herbert speak,
Mr. Mouse, with angry squeak,
Cocking up his head, might say,
“Wicked! thievish! nay, sir, nay!
Mr. Mouse, with angry squeak,
Cocking up his head, might say,
“Wicked! thievish! nay, sir, nay!
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“Though you be a fierce Draw-can-sir,
You from me shall have your answer;
Scold as loud as e'er you can, sir,
For the contest I'm your man, sir.
You from me shall have your answer;
Scold as loud as e'er you can, sir,
For the contest I'm your man, sir.
“In this house my breath I drew
First, good sir, as well as you;
Here I purpose to abide,
Spite of all your scorn and pride.
First, good sir, as well as you;
Here I purpose to abide,
Spite of all your scorn and pride.
“I'm no older, sir, than you be,
But by no means such a looby;
I my livelihood am gaining,
Sundry hopeful sprigs maintaining.
But by no means such a looby;
I my livelihood am gaining,
Sundry hopeful sprigs maintaining.
“You may know some scraps of Latin,
Silly rhymes perhaps you're pat in;
Yet you're but a helpless ninny,
Ne'er have earn'd a single guinea;
But your food and raiment, laddy,
Many a pound have cost your daddy.
Silly rhymes perhaps you're pat in;
Yet you're but a helpless ninny,
Ne'er have earn'd a single guinea;
But your food and raiment, laddy,
Many a pound have cost your daddy.
“Little thanks I owe to you,
Or to any of your crew;
Well I know the snares you lay
For my ruin, night and day.
Or to any of your crew;
Well I know the snares you lay
For my ruin, night and day.
“First, your fierce long whiskered cat
Makes my heart go pit-a-pat;
Should I meet this monster grim
Soon she'd tear me limb from limb;
Makes my heart go pit-a-pat;
Should I meet this monster grim
Soon she'd tear me limb from limb;
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“Not for self alone I'm wary,
Ev'ry juvenile vagary
Of my children dear I dread,
Lest their youthful blood be shed;
Ev'ry frisk I think too much is,
Lest it lead to those dread clutches.
Ev'ry juvenile vagary
Of my children dear I dread,
Lest their youthful blood be shed;
Ev'ry frisk I think too much is,
Lest it lead to those dread clutches.
“Their bright eyes so sweetly sparkling,
While they grope and wander darkling,
Slender snouts, and tails so pretty,
Move not her to love and pity.
While they grope and wander darkling,
Slender snouts, and tails so pretty,
Move not her to love and pity.
“Then the horrid gaping trap,
Meant my harmless head to snap!
Something I must take revenge in,
Since you've placed that horrid engine.
Meant my harmless head to snap!
Something I must take revenge in,
Since you've placed that horrid engine.
“What I eat is such a driblet,
Surely I ungrudged might nibble it;
You the whole day long are munching,
Dining, junketing, and lunching,
Surely I ungrudged might nibble it;
You the whole day long are munching,
Dining, junketing, and lunching,
“Now, good sir, I say adieu!
No more time I'll waste with you;
Warning you your tongue to bridle,
Not to dawdle, prate, and idle,
I remain with zeal most fervent,
Your obedient humble servant!”
No more time I'll waste with you;
Warning you your tongue to bridle,
Not to dawdle, prate, and idle,
I remain with zeal most fervent,
Your obedient humble servant!”
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