“I’m truly sorry man’s dominion
Has broken nature’s social union
An justifies that ill opinion
Which makes thee startle
At me, thy poor earth born companion
An fellow moral.”
He sees in the house of “leaves and stubble” so carefully collected against the winter storm, and analogy which he is slow to improve.
“But mousie thou art no thy lane
In proving fore sight may be vain
The best laid schemes o’ mince and men