The Cat, The Weasel, and the Young Rabbit

07.17: THE CAT, THE WEASEL, AND THE YOUNG RABBIT.
John Rabbit's palace under ground
Was once by Goody Weasel found.
She, sly of heart, resolved to seize
The place, and did so at her ease.
She took possession while its lord
Was absent on the dewy sward,
Intent upon his usual sport,
A courtier at Aurora's court.
When he had browsed his fill of clover
And cut his pranks all nicely over,
Home Johnny came to take his drowse,
All snug within his cellar-house.
The weasel's nose he came to see,
Outsticking through the open door.
'Ye gods of hospitality!'
Exclaim'd the creature, vexèd sore,
'Must I give up my father's lodge?
Ho! Madam Weasel, please to budge,
Or, quicker than a weasel's dodge,
I'll call the rats to pay their grudge!'
The sharp-nosed lady made reply,
That she was first to occupy.
The cause of war was surely small—
A house where one could only crawl!
And though it were a vast domain,
Said she, 'I'd like to know what will
Could grant to John perpetual reign,—
The son of Peter or of Bill,—
More than to Paul, or even me.'
John Rabbit spoke—great lawyer he—
Of custom, usage, as the law,
Whereby the house, from sire to son,
As well as all its store of straw,
From Peter came at length to John.
Who could present a claim, so good
As he, the first possessor, could?
'Now,' said the dame, 'let's drop dispute,
And go before Raminagrobis,
Who'll judge, not only in this suit,
But tell us truly whose the globe is.'
This person was a hermit cat,
A cat that play'd the hypocrite,
A saintly mouser, sleek and fat,
An arbiter of keenest wit.
John Rabbit in the judge concurr'd,
And off went both their case to broach
Before his majesty, the furr'd.
Said Clapperclaw, 'My kits, approach,
And put your noses to my ears:
I'm deaf, almost, by weight of years.'
And so they did, not fearing aught.
The good apostle, Clapperclaw,
Then laid on each a well-arm'd paw,
And both to an agreement brought,
By virtue of his tuskèd jaw.
This brings to mind the fate
Of little kings before the great.
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The Cat, The Weasel, and the Young Rabbit

40. THE CAT, THE WEASEL, AND THE YOUNG RABBIT. There was once a young Rabbit, a quiet, peace-loving Rabbit. He lived in a neat house, and made no trouble for any one. But one day he went to market to buy some parsley. A Weasel came slyly by and saw the little house. He slipped in and made himself at home. It was a good place to stay in, and there he meant to stay. By and by the Rabbit came home, and saw the Weasel at the window.
"Do you know that this is my house?" the Rabbit asked.
"Pooh, pooh!" said the Weasel, "what makes it yours? You only dug in the ground a little, and came in here where the earth was gone. Do you think you own the earth?"
"The law gives it to me," said the Rabbit, "because I made it fit to live in. If you do not leave, I will call the police."
"The law, indeed!" said the Weasel; "and what right has the law to give away land? But we will have no more words. We will lay the matter before the Cat, and leave it to him."
"Very well," said the young Rabbit, and they went to find the Cat,—an old, wise, and strong Cat.
"Come nearer my children," said the Cat, as they both began to talk at the same time. "I am very deaf; nearer, for I wish to hear every word."
They came close to the Cat, each talking loudly. But as soon as the Cat had them within reach, he darted his claws out of each side, and held them both fast. First he made way with the young rabbit, next with the Weasel; and then the house belonged to him. [more info]