Might live in plenty and grow great. 
    A powerful party straight combined,
  And their united forces joined
  To bring their measures into play,
    For none so loyal were as they;
  And none such patriots to support
  As well the country as the court. 
  No sooner were those Dons admitted,
  But (all those wondrous virtues quitted)
  They all the speediest means devise
  To raise themselves and families. 
    Another party well observing
  These pampered were, while they were starving,
  Their ministry brought in disgrace,
  Expelled them and supplied their place;
  These on just principles were known
  The true supporters of the throne. 
  And for the subjects’ liberty,
  They’d (marry, would they) freely die;
  But being well fixed in their station,
  Regardless of their prince and nation,
  Just like the others, all their skill
  Was how they might their paunches fill. 
    On this a Rat not quite so blind
  In state intrigues as human kind,
  But of more honour, thus replied: 
  “Confound ye all on either side;
  All your contentions are but these,
  Whose arts shall best secure the Cheese.”

      ANONYMOUS

  The Drop of Rain

  A little particle of rain
    That from a passing cloud descended: 
  Was heard thus idly to complain: 
    “My brief existence now is ended! 
  Outcast alike of earth and sky,
  Useless to live, unknown to die!”
  It chanced to fall into the sea,
    And there an open shell received it;
  And after years how rich was he
    Who from its prison-house released it! 
  The drop of rain had formed a gem
  To deck a monarch’s diadem.

      ANONYMOUS

  The Lion and the Echo

    A Lion bravest of the wood,
  Whose title undisputed stood,
  As o’er the wide domains he prowled,
  And in pursuit of booty growled,
  An Echo from a distant cave
  Re-growled articulately grave. 
  His Majesty, surprised, began
  To think at first it was a man;
  But, on reflection sage, he found
  It was too like a lion’s sound. 
  “Whose voice is that which growls at mine?”
  His Highness asked.  Says Echo, “Mine!”
  “Thine,” says the Lion; “who art thou?”
  Echo as stern cried, “Who art thou?”
  “Know I’m a lion, hear and tremble!”
  Replied the king.  Cried Echo, “Tremble!”
  “Come forth,” says Lion, “show thyself!”
  Laconic Echo answered, “Elf!”
  “Elf dost thou call me, vile pretender?”
  Echo as loud replied, “Pretender?”
  At this, as jealous of his reign,
  He growled in rage—­she growled again. 
  Incensed the more, he chafed and foamed,
  And round the spacious forest roamed,
  To find the rival of his throne,
  Who durst with him dispute the crown. 
    A Fox, who listened all the while,
  Addressed the monarch with a smile: 
  “My liege, most humbly I make bold,
  Though truth may not be always told,
  That this same phantom that you hear,
  That so alarms your royal ear,
  Is not a rival of your throne—­
  The voice and fears are all your own.”