Boothby: The Battle of the Mice and the Weasels

The vanquish'd Mice, with doleful mien,
(As daub'd in ale-house you have seen)
From the victorious Weasels fled,
In their small holes to hide their head.
The chiefs had tied upon their crest
Horns, to be noted from the rest
In battle by the rallying host;
And with these cumbrous honours crost,
Stuck in the entrances, and so
Were taken by the greedy foe.
When tempests shake the public weal
The great their utmost fury feel;
Th' obscure 'tis easy to conceal.

Source: Boothby - Phaedrus 4.6.

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(Yoshitoshi's 'The Battle of the Cats and Mice' 1859: source)

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