The Cat and the Fox

   The Cat and Fox, when saints were all the rage

  Together went upon pilgrimage.

  Our Pilgrims, as a thing of course,

  Disputed till their throats were hoarse¹.

    Then, dropping to a lower tone,

  They talk'd of this, and talk'd of that,

  Till Reynard whisper'd to the Cat,

    "You think yourself a knowing one:

  How many cunning tricks have you?

  For I've a hundred, old and new,

  All ready in my haversack."

  The Cat replied, "I do not lack,

    Though with but one provided;

  And, truth to honour, for that matter,

  I hold it than a thousand better."

    In fresh dispute they sided;

  And loudly were they at it, when

  Approach'd a mob of dogs and men.

  "Now," said the Cat, "your tricks ransack²,

  And put your cunning brains to rack,

  One life to save; I'll show you mine—

  A trick, you see, for saving nine."

  With that, she climb'd a lofty pine.

  The Fox his hundred ruses³ tried,

    And yet no safety found.

  A hundred times he falsified.

    The nose of every hound

  Was here, and there, and everywhere,

    Above, and under ground;

  But yet to stop he did not dare,

  Pent in a hole, it was no joke,

  To meet the terriers or the smoke.

  So, leaping into upper air,

  He met two dogs, that choked him there.

 

  Expedients⁴ may be too many,

    Consuming time to choose and try.

  On one, but that as good as any,

    'Tis best in danger to rely.

1 hoarse   

adj.嘶哑的，沙哑的

参考例句：

• He asked me a question in a hoarse voice.他用嘶哑的声音问了我一个问题。
• He was too excited and roared himself hoarse.他过于激动，嗓子都喊哑了。

2 ransack   

v.彻底搜索，洗劫

参考例句：

• He began to ransack his mother's workbox for a piece of thread.他要找一根线,开始翻腾妈妈的针线盒。
• She ransack my apartment for the bankbook.她在我公寓里到处搜索寻找存折。

3 ruses   

n.诡计，计策( ruse的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Buyers use different ruses to wring free credit out of their suppliers. 买主们千方百计想从供货商那儿无息赊购。 来自柯林斯例句

4 expedients   

n.应急有效的，权宜之计的( expedient的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• He is full of [fruitful in] expedients. 他办法多。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• Perhaps Calonne might return too, with fresh financial expedients. 或许卡洛纳也会回来，带有新的财政机谋。 来自辞典例句