THE FALL OF PRIDE. 19 
Some men are proud of being poor : 
How proud the wealthy crowd ! 
And both are past all human cure, 
In both, the flesh is proud. 
These cats, intent a brook to cross, 
Upon its slight-bridge met ; 
In hot defiance there did toss 
Their heads,—their rage to whet. 
There was but room for one to pass— 
But which was that to be P— 
’Tis woman’s bane, too oft, alas! 
To hate equality ! 
They stood and paused,—but not in fear,— 
Prepared their paws to lance,— 
Nor could (tho’ deep the brook, and clear) 
They brook each other’s glance. 
Catastrophe must now begin ! 
Each cat began to flout 
And fight,—and so they both fell in 
Because they ’d both fallen out. 
Well-founded is their tale of woe: 
(Chance foils the loftiest cause !) 
High files of Chancery records show 
“* Found dead,” the Inquest was. 
