a weasel through a hole contrived to squeeze,

(she was recovering from disease),

which led her to a farmer's hoard.

there lodged, her wasted form she cherish'd;

heaven knows the lard and victuals stored

that by her gnawing perish'd!

of which the consequence

was sudden corpulence.

a week or so was past,

when having fully broken fast,

a noise she heard, and hurried

to find the hole by which she came,

and seem'd to find it not the same;

so round she ran, most sadly flurried;

and, coming back, thrust out her head,

which, sticking there, she said,

"this is the hole, there can't be blunder:

what makes it now so small, i wonder,

where, but the other day, i pass'd with ease?"

a rat her trouble sees,

and cries, "but with an emptier belly;

you entered lean, and lean must sally."