Rats

[abu nuwas]

At first the rats were two-by-two,
And then came four-by-four,
Because my good dustman,
Left tit-bits at my door.

Now four-by-four was soon sixteen,
Then straight to thirty-two,
At sixty-four they came right in
As tit-bits wouldn't do.

'We can share, and share alike!'
The King-Rat said to me
And so we did, and so we did
Till I was made to flee.

So then we had a Conference,
And round the table sat,
The denizens of all that's good
Chaired by my new black Cat.