The Cockerel, the Cat, and the Young Mouse

A youthful mouse, not up to trap, / Had almost met a sad mishap. / The story hear him thus relate, / With great importance, to his mother: -- / 'I pass'd the mountain bounds of this estate, / And off was trotting on another, / Like some young rat with nought to do / But see things wonderful and new, / When two strange creatures came in view. / The one was mild, benign, and gracious; / The other, turbulent, rapacious, / With voice terrific, shrill, and rough, / And on his head a bit of stuff / That look'd like raw and bloody meat, / Raised up a sort of arms, and beat / The air, as if he meant to fly, / And bore his plumy tail on high.'

A cock, that just began to crow, / As if some nondescript, / From far New Holland shipp'd, / Was what our mousling pictured so. / 'He beat his arms,' said he, 'and raised his voice, / And made so terrible a noise, / That I, who, thanks to Heaven, may justly boast / Myself as bold as any mouse, / Scud off, (his voice would even scare a ghost! ) / And cursed himself and all his house; / For, but for him, I should have staid, / And doubtless an acquaintance made / With her who seem'd so mild and good. / Like us, in velvet cloak and hood, / She wears a tail that's full of grace, / A very sweet and humble face, -- / No mouse more kindness could desire, -- / And yet her eye is full of fire. / I do believe the lovely creature / A friend of rats and mice by nature. / Her ears, though, like herself, they're bigger, / Are just like ours in form and figure. / To her I was approaching, when, / Aloft on what appear'd his den, / The other scream'd, -- and off I fled. ' / 'My son,' his cautious mother said, / 'That sweet one was the cat, / The mortal foe of mouse and rat, / Who seeks by smooth deceit, / Her appetite to treat. / So far the other is from that, / We yet may eat / His dainty meat; / Whereas the cruel cat, / Whene'er she can, devours / No other meat than ours.'