The Lion, Eagle And Bat

The Eagle and Lion
Held solemn debate;
To settle between them
Some matters of state

Loud complaints of the Bat
Made the Eagle--"How long
Shall this pitiful creature
Dare do us such wrong?

With my vassals mixing,
To her birdship she clings,--
As proof irrefragable,
Showing her wings;

But says, when she chooses
Our laws to defy,
I'm no subject of yours;
A plain quadruped I.

Would you call me a Bird?
A sad blunder you've made!
For I wear a broad snout,
And no beak, on my head?

With my vassals, she slanders
The Beasts of your reign;
When among you she wanders,
Of the Birds will complain."

"In my realm," said the Lion,
"No more shall she come."--
"Nor in mine," said the Eagle--
"Let that be her doom."

Thenceforward, in darkness,
She wanders alone;
No Bird and no Beast
Such companion will own.

Bats of authors, who seek
To be two things at once,
Take care lest ye prove
In both--but a dunce!