Some mice who saw fit, once a quarter to meet,
To arrange the concerns of their city;
Thought it needful to choose, as is common with us,
First a chairman, and then a committee.
When the chairman was seated, the object he stated
For which at that meeting they sat:
Which was, it should seem, the concerting a scheme
To defeat the designs of the cat.
Dr. Nibblecheese rose, and said, "I would propose,
To this cat we fasten a bell;
He who likes what I've said, now will hold up his head;
He who does not, may hold up his tail."
So out of respect, they their noses erect,
Except one who the order reversed;
_Ayes_, all then but one, but yet nought could be done,
Until he had his reasons rehearsed.
"I shall not," said this mouse, "waste the time of the house,
In long arguments; since, as I view it,
The scheme would succeed without doubt, if indeed
We could find any mouse who would _do it_."
"Hear! hear!" was the cry, and "no bells we will try,
Unless you will fasten them on;"
So quite broken-hearted the members departed,
For the bill was rejected _nem. con._