The Virtuous Fox and the Self-righteous Cat

The Fox and the Cat, as they travell'd one day,
With moral discourses cut shorter the way:
" Tis great (says the Fox) to make justice our guide! "
" How godlike is mercy! " Grimalkin reply'd.

Whilst thus they proceeded, a Wolf from the wood,
Impatient of hunger, and thirsting for blood,
Rush'd forth, as he saw the dull shepherd asleep,
And seiz'd for his supper an innocent sheep.
" In vain, wretched victim, for mercy you bleat,
When mutton's at hand, (says the Wolf,) I must eat. "
Grimalkin's astonish'd — the Fox stood aghast, brutes:
To see the fell beast at his bloody repast.
" What a wretch, (says the Cat,) — 'tis the vilest of brutes:
Does he feed upon flesh, when there's herbage and roots? "
Cries the Fox — " While our oaks give us acorns so good,
What a tyrant is this, to spill innocent blood! "

Well, onward they march'd, and they moraliz'd still,
Till they came where some poultry pick'd chaff by a mill;
Sly Reynard survey'd them with gluttonous eyes,
And made (spite of morals) a pullet his prize.

A Mouse too, that chanc'd from her covert to stray,
The greedy Grimalkin secur'd as her prey.

A Spider that sat in her web on the wall,
Perceiv'd the poor victims, and pity'd their fall;
She cry'd — " Of such murders how guiltless am I! "
So ran to regale on a new-taken fly.

MORAL .

The faults of our neighbours with freedom we blame,
But tax not ourselves, though we practise the same.