Instans Tyrannus

5I struck him, he grovelled of course —

6For, what was his force?

7I pinned him to earth with my weight

8And persistence of hate;

9And he lay, would not moan, would not curse,

10As his lot might be worse.

11"Were the object less mean? would he stand

12At the swing of my hand!

13For obscurity helps him, and blots

14The hole where he squats."

15So, I set my five wits on the stretch.

16To inveigle the wretch.

17All in vain! Gold and jewels I threw,

18Still he couched there perdue;

19I tempted his blood and his flesh,

20Hid in roses my mesh,

21Choicest cates and the flagon's best spilth:

22Still he kept to his filth.

23Had he kith now or kin, were access

24To his heart, did I press:

25Just a son or a mother to seize!

26No such booty as these.

27Were it simply a friend to pursue

28'Mid my million or two,

29Who could pay me, in person or pelf,

30What he owes me himself!

31No: I could not but smile thro' my chafe:

32For the fellow lay safe

33As his mates do, the midge and the nit,

34 — Thro' minuteness, to wit.

35Then a humour more great took its place

36At the thought of his face:

37The droop, the low cares of the mouth,

38The trouble uncouth

39'Twixt the brows, all that air one is fain

40To put out of its pain,

41And, "no!" I admonished myself,

42"Is one mocked by an elf.

43Is one baffled by toad or by rat?

44The gravamen's in that!

45How the lion, who crouches to suit

46His back to my foot,

47Would admire that I stand in debate!

48But the small turns the great

49If it vexes you, — that is the thing!

50Toad or rat vex the king?

51Tho' I waste half my realm to unearth

52Toad or rat, 'tis well worth!"

53So, I soberly laid my last plan

54To extinguish the man.

55Round his creep-hole, with never a break

56Ran my fires for his sake;

57Overhead, did my thunder combine

58With my under-ground mine:

59Till I looked from my labour content

60To enjoy the event.

61When sudden ... how think ye, the end?

62Did I say "without friend?"

63Say rather, from marge to blue marge

64The whole sky grew his targe

65With the sun's self for visible boss,

66While an Arm ran across

67Which the earth heaved beneath like a breast!

68Where the wretch was safe prest!

69Do you see! Just my vengeance complete,

70The man sprang to his feet,

71Stood erect, caught at God's skirts, and prayed!

72 — So,I_ was afraid!