PESTS OF THE HOUSEHOLD. 73 



From street to street lie piped advancing, 

 And step bj step they followed dancing, 

 Until they came to the river Weser, 

 Wherein all plunged and perished. 



17. " Save one, who, stout as Julius Caesar, 

 Swam across, and lived to carry 



(As he the manuscript he cherished) 

 To Rat-land home his commentary, 

 Which was, ' At the first shrill notes of the pipe, 

 I heard a sound as of scraping tripe, 

 And putting apples wondrous ripe 

 Into a cider-press's gripe ; 

 And a moving away of pickle-tub boards, 

 And a leaving ajar of conserve-cupboards, 

 And a drawing the corks of train-oil flasks, 

 And a breaking the hoops of butter-casks ; 

 And it seemed as if a voice 



(Sweeter far than by harp or by psaltery- 

 Is breathed) called out : ' O rats, rejoice ! 



The world has grown to one vast dry-saltery ! 

 So munch on, crunch on, take your nuncheon, 

 Breakfast, supper, dinner, luncheon ! ' 

 And just as a bulky sugar-puncheon, 

 Already staved, like a great sun, shone 

 Glorious ; scarce an inch before me, 

 Just as methought it said, ' Come, bore me ! ' 

 I found the Weser rolling o'er me ! ' " 



