76 NEIGHBORS WITH CLAWS AND HOOFS. 



A sweat like death all over him came, 

 For the rats had eaten it out of the f rame c 



9. As he looked, there came a man from his farm ; 

 He had a countenance white with alarm : 

 " My lord, I opened your granaries this morn, 

 And the rats had eaten all your corn." 



10. Another came running presently, 

 And he was as pale as pale could be 

 " Fly ! my lord bishop, fly," quoth he, 



" Ten thousand rats are coming this way 

 The Lord forgive you for yesterday ! " 



11. " I'll go to my tower on the Rhine," replied he 5 

 " 'Tis the safest place in Germany ; 



The walls are high, and the shores are steep, 

 And the stream is strong, and the water deep." 



12. Bishop Hatto fearfully hastened away, 

 And he crossed the Rhine without delay, 

 And reached his tower, and barred with care 

 All the windows, doors, and loop-holes there. 



13. He laid him down and closed his eyes ; 

 But soon a scream made him arise ; 

 He started, and saw two eyes of flame 



On his pillow, from whence the screaming came 



14. He listened, and looked it was only the cat, 

 But the bishop grew more fearful for that ; 

 For she sat screaming, mad with fear 



At the army of rats that were drawing near. 



15. For they have swum over the river so deep, 

 And they have climbed the shores so steep, 



