The
Eagle
,
the
Sow
,
and
the
Cat
.
THE
Queen
of
Birds
,
t'encrease
the
Regal
Stock
,
Had
hatch'd
her
young
Ones
in
a
stately
Oak
,
Whose
Middle-part
was
by
a
Cat
possest
,
And
near
the
Root
with
Litter
warmly
drest
,
A
teeming
Sow
had
made
her
peaceful
Nest
.
(
Thus
Palaces
are
cramm'd
from
Roof
to
Ground
.
And
Animals
,
as
various
,
in
them
found
.
)
When
to
the
Sow
,
who
no
Misfortune
fear'd
,
Puss
with
her
fawning
Compliments
appear'd
,
Rejoicing
much
at
her
Deliv'ry
past
,
And
that
she
'scap'd
so
well
,
who
bred
so
fast
.
Then
every
little
Piglin
she
commends
,
And
likens
them
to
all
their
swinish
Friends
;
Bestows
good
Wishes
,
but
with
Sighs
implies
,
That
some
dark
Fears
do
in
her
Bosom
rise
.
Such
tempting
Flesh
,
she
cries
,
will
Eagles
spare
?
Methinks
,
good
Neighbour
,
you
shou'd
live
in
Care
:
Since
I
,
who
bring
not
forth
such
dainty
Bits
,
Tremble
for
my
unpalatable
Chits
;
And
had
I
but
foreseen
,
the
Eagle's
Bed
Was
in
this
fatal
Tree
to
have
been
spread
;
I
sooner
wou'd
have
kitten'd
in
the
Road
,
Than
made
this
Place
of
Danger
my
abode
.
I
heard
her
young
Ones
lately
cry
for
Pig
,
And
pity'd
you
,
that
were
so
near
,
and
big
.
In
Friendship
this
I
secretly
reveal
,
Lest
Pettitoes
shou'd
make
th'
ensuing
Meal
;
Or
else
,
perhaps
,
Yourself
may
be
their
aim
,
For
a
Sow's
Paps
has
been
a
Dish
of
Fame
.
No
more
the
sad
,
affrighted
Mother
hears
,
But
overturning
all
with
boist'rous
Fears
,
She
from
her
helpless
Young
in
haste
departs
,
Whilst
Puss
ascends
,
to
practise
farther
Arts
.
The
Anti-chamber
pass'd
,
she
scratch'd
the
Door
:
The
Eagle
,
ne'er
alarum'd
so
before
,
Bids
her
come
in
,
and
look
the
Cause
be
great
,
That
makes
her
thus
disturb
the
Royal
Seat
;
Nor
think
,
of
Mice
and
Rats
some
pest'ring
Tale
Shall
,
in
excuse
of
Insolence
,
prevail
.
Alas
!
my
Gracious
Lady
,
quoth
the
Cat
,
I
think
not
of
such
Vermin
;
Mouse
,
or
Rat
To
me
are
tasteless
grown
;
nor
dare
I
stir
To
use
my
Phangs
,
or
to
expose
my
Fur
.
A
Foe
intestine
threatens
all
around
,
And
ev'n
this
lofty
Structure
will
confound
;
A
Pestilential
Sow
,
a
meazel'd
Pork
On
the
Foundation
has
been
long
at
work
,
Help'd
by
a
Rabble
,
issu'd
from
her
Womb
,
Which
she
has
foster'd
in
that
lower
Room
;
Who
now
for
Acorns
are
so
madly
bent
,
That
soon
this
Tree
must
fall
,
for
their
Content
.
I
wou'd
have
fetch'd
some
for
th'
unruly
Elves
;
But
'tis
the
Mob's
delight
to
help
Themselves
:
Whilst
your
high
Brood
must
with
the
meanest
drop
,
And
steeper
be
their
Fall
,
as
next
the
Top
;
Unless
you
soon
to
Jupiter
repair
,
And
let
him
know
,
the
Case
demands
his
Care
.
Oh
!
may
the
Trunk
but
stand
,
'till
you
come
back
!
But
hark
!
already
sure
,
I
hear
it
crack
.
Away
,
away
—
The
Eagle
,
all
agast
,
Soars
to
the
Sky
,
nor
falters
in
her
haste
:
Whilst
crafty
Puss
,
now
o'er
the
Eyry
reigns
,
Replenishing
her
Maw
with
treach'rous
Gains
.
The
Sow
she
plunders
next
,
and
lives
alone
;
The
Pigs
,
the
Eaglets
,
and
the
House
her
Own
.
Curs'd
Sycophants
!
How
wretched
is
the
Fate
Of
those
,
who
know
you
not
,
till
'tis
too
late
!