Innocentiam iniurijs maximè obnoxiam esse

THE Cat, the Cock held prisoner in her paw,
And said of Birdes, he most deseru'd to die,
For that contrarie vnto Natures Law,
Hi kindred he abus'd incestuously:
His Mother, Sisters, and a noise did keepe,
With crowing still, when others faine would sleepe.

In his defence, heereto repli'de the Cock,
My fault of lust, is for my maisters gaine,
I am for crowing, call'd the Plowmans clock,
Whome I awake betime, to daily paine:
No doubt (quoth Pusse,) of reasons thou hast store,
But I am fasting, and can heare no more.