Poke out the nests and block up the holes!
Consult with carpenters and builders, 150
And leave in our town not even a trace
Of the rats!’—when suddenly up the face
Of the Piper perked in the market-place,
With a, ‘First, if you please, my thousand guilders!’
A thousand guilders! The Mayor looked blue; 155
So did the Corporation too.
For council dinners made rare havock
With Claret, Moselle, Vin-de-Grave, Hock;