THERE was a stream, now fast, now slow,
But given at times to overflow;
A freakishness that played strange pranks
With the poor dwellers on its banks.
There came two engineers. One said,
"Embank it!" Wagging a wise head
In the austere impressive way
Of dogmatists, as who should say,
"If there's an Oracle, _I_ am it."
The other answered, "Nonsense! _Dam it!_"
They did, and stood with hope elate,
But presently there came a "spate;"
The swollen torrent, swift and muddied,
All the surrounding country flooded,
Put a prompt stop to prosperous tillage,
Drowned fifty folk, and swamped a village.