Hush! ’twas your carelessness, in chief,

That gave the chance to knave and thief!

The jealous Ox and Horse conspired,

And then, the villain Rat they hired

To delve in darkness underground

Till he the precious charter found,

And brought the Horse and Ox, who thought

Their liberty could thus be bought,—

The tiresome creatures! To this day

They drudge and drudge, the same old way!