The Cat and the Rat by Jean de La Fontaine

Four creatures, wont to prowl, -- / Sly Grab-and-Snatch, the cat, / Grave Evil-bode, the owl, / Thief Nibble-stitch, the rat, / And Madam Weasel, prim and fine, -- / Inhabited a rotten pine. / A man their home discover'd there, / And set, one night, a cunning snare. / The cat, a noted early-riser, / Went forth, at break of day, / To hunt her usual prey. / Not much the wiser / For morning's feeble ray, / The noose did suddenly surprise her. / Waked by her strangling cry, / Grey Nibble-stitch drew nigh: / As full of joy was he / As of despair was she, / For in the noose he saw / His foe of mortal paw. / 'Dear friend,' said Mrs. Grab-and-Snatch, / 'Do, pray, this cursed cord detach. / I've always known your skill, / And often your good-will; / Now help me from this worst of snares, / In which I fell at unawares. / 'Tis by a sacred right, / You, sole of all your race, / By special love and grace, / Have been my favourite -- / The darling of my eyes. / 'Twas order'd by celestial cares, / No doubt; I thank the blessed skies, / That, going out to say my prayers, / As cats devout each morning do, / This net has made me pray to you. / Come, fall to work upon the cord. ' / Replied the rat, 'And what reward / Shall pay me, if I dare? ' / 'Why,' said the cat, 'I swear / To be your firm ally: / Henceforth, eternally, / These powerful claws are yours, / Which safe your life insures. / I'll guard from quadruped and fowl; / I'll eat the weasel and the owl. ' / 'Ah,' cried the rat, 'you fool! / I'm quite too wise to be your tool. ' / He said, and sought his snug retreat, / Close at the rotten pine-tree's feet. / Where plump he did the weasel meet; / Whom shunning by a happy dodge, / He climb'd the hollow trunk to lodge; / And there the savage owl he saw. / Necessity became his law, / And down he went, the rope to gnaw. / Strand after strand in two he bit, / And freed, at last, the hypocrite. / That moment came the man in sight; / The new allies took hasty flight.

A good while after that, / Our liberated cat / Espied her favourite rat, / Quite out of reach, and on his guard. / 'My friend,' said she, 'I take your shyness hard; / Your caution wrongs my gratitude; / Approach, and greet your staunch ally. / Do you suppose, dear rat, that I / Forget the solemn oath I mew'd? ' / 'Do I forget,' the rat replied, / 'To what your nature is allied? / To thankfulness, or even pity, / Can cats be ever bound by treaty?'