"What a wretch!" said the Cat; "what a bloodthirsty brute!
To seize a poor Sheep, when there's herbage and fruit."
Cried the Fox, "With the acorns so sweet and so good,
What a tyrant this is to spill innocent blood."
Then onward they went and discoursed by the way,
And with still more wise maxims enliven'd the day;
And e'er as they travell'd they moralised still,
Till they came where some poultry peck'd chaff by a mill
Then the Fox, without ceasing his sayings so wise,
Now snapp'd up a Chicken by way of a prize;
And a mouse which then chanced from her covert to stray,
The thoughtful Grimalkin secured as her prey.
A Spider who sat in her web on the wall
Perceived the poor victims and pitied their fall;
She cried, "Of such murders how guiltless am I!"
Then ran to regale on a new-taken Fly.
