The Mice in Council Once on a time, the mice aspired thro' deeds to glitter: Despising every cat of either sex, They would the lives of cook and mistress vex, What topic than a mouse's glory could be fitter?

To hear it folk would strain their necks!

A council should be called, whither must come no sitter Whose tail was not of special length; tails were not wrong If as the body long: A mouse with well-developed tail's a sound adviser, In all things wiser Than nibblers of less stately kind.

Here to extenuate, in honour let us mention, That, to a man's attire and beard, we give attention When we are critics of his mind.

'Twas held, by free consent and common feeling, That none but long-tailed mice might tread the council room; Thus, if in fight any had met her doom As to her tail, there could be no appealing, Taillessness was of folly a revealing, Or careless dealing: There was no other course to choose: Tails lost, must warn the mice, no tails to lose.

So matters were arranged and duly came the meeting: As soon as darkest hours occurred, In the great meal-bin, talk was heard; The mice were plans completing.

But scarcely they the task assail, When lo! Arrives a rat without a tail.

Observing this, a tiny mouse and youthful Nudges a grey-haired mate And gently asks her, by what fate, A tailless rat is there; let her be truthful!

"What then has happened to our law?

Loud say, I pray, that he must instantly withdraw!