In dire Contest the Rats and Weazles met,
And Foot to Foot, and Point to Point was set:
An ancient Quarrel had such Hatred wrought,
That for Revenge, as for Renown, they fought.
Now bloody was the Day, and hard the Strife,
Wherein bold Warriors lost neglected Life;
But as, some Errors still we must commit,
Nor Valour always ballanc’d is by Wit;
Among the Rats some Officers appear’d,
With lofty Plumage on their Foreheads rear’d,
Unthinking they, and ruin’d by their Pride:
For when the Weazles prov’d the stronger Side,
A gen’ral Rout befell, and a Retreat,
Was by the Vanquish’d now implor’d of Fate;
To slender Crannies all repair’d in haste,
Where easily the undress’d Vulgar past:
But when the Rats of Figure wou’d have fled,
So wide those branching Marks of Honour spread,
The Feather in the Cap was fatal to the Head.
(Anne Kingsmill Finch)
More Poetry from Anne Kingsmill Finch:
Anne Kingsmill Finch Poems based on Topics: Life, Fate & Destiny, Wit, Past, Haste, Pride, Honor, Revenge & Vengeance, Error & Mistake- A Contemplation (Anne Kingsmill Finch Poems)
- A Pastoral Dialogue Between Two Shepherdesses (Anne Kingsmill Finch Poems)
- On The Hurricane (Anne Kingsmill Finch Poems)
- The Poor Man's Lamb (Anne Kingsmill Finch Poems)
- The Petition For An Absolute Retreat (Anne Kingsmill Finch Poems)
- On The Death Of The Queen (Anne Kingsmill Finch Poems)
Readers Who Like This Poem Also Like:
Based on Topics: Life Poems, Fate & Destiny Poems, Past Poems, Pride Poems, Honor Poems, Wit Poems, Haste Poems, Error & Mistake Poems, Revenge & Vengeance PoemsBased on Keywords: crannies, implor, ballanc, weazles
- Palestine; A Prize Poem, Recited In The Theatre, Oxford (Reginald Heber Poems)
- The Fairy Of The Fountains (Letitia Elizabeth Landon Poems)
- Essay On War (Nathaniel Bloomfield Poems)
- Stanzas In Memory Of The Author Of 'Obermann' (Matthew Arnold Poems)
- The Misanthrope Reclaimed - Act I (George W Sands Poems)