Classic Poem

When fools, or coxcombs get in fav'our,
How insolent is their behaviour.

Once on a time, as story goes,
The Monkey and the Cat were foes;
Their quarrel from this first began,
Which was of service most to man;
Grimaikin spoke in humble strain,
But pug was haughty, pert and vain,
And as the fav'rite of his lady,
To vindicate himself was ready;
He beg'd the youthful blooming fair,
The different claims of each to hear;
And candidly to give her vote,
As reason and as justice ought.

Once on a time, as story goes,
The Monkey and the Cat were foes;
Their quarrel from this first began,
Which was of service most to man;
Grimaikin spoke in humble strain,
But pug was haughty, pert and vain,
And as the fav'rite of his lady,
To vindicate himself was ready;
He beg'd the youthful blooming fair,
The different claims of each to hear;
And candidly to give her vote,
As reason and as justice ought.

The honest Cat , who all this while,
Had mark'd his puffing florid stile;
With zeal inflam'd, now rear'd her head,
And modestly assuming, said;
" The arts you boast, all must consess,
" Are merely trifles, more or less;
" Mine as they are to good conduce,
" And surely must be of some use:
" From vermin clear, I keep the house,
" Destroy the pilfering rat and mouse;
" The granery, garden, kitchen own,
" My various parts to each well known,
" My quality I lay aside,
" But that I'm English is my pride.
" Impartially the lady heard.
" And pug was beat and puss prefer'd. "