THE HISTORY OF A NUT-CRACKER. 79.

ears of the king. His majesty expressed his satisfaction,
and the poets of the court composed
sonnets upon his victory, while the
courtiers compared him to Sesostris,
Alexander, and Cesar.

The queen was alone anxious and
uneasy; she knew Dame Mousey well,
and suspected that she would not leave
unavenged the death of her relations
and friends. And, in fact, at the
very moment when the queen, by
way of atoning for her previous fault,
was preparing with her own hands
a liver soup for the king, who doated
upon that dish, Dame Mousey sud- “=
denly appeared and chanted the following lines :—

  

 

Thine husband, void of pity and of fear,
Hath slain my cousins, sons, and nephews dear ;
But list, O Queen! to the decrees of fate:
The child which heaven will shortly give to thee,
And which the object of thy love will be,
Shall bear the rage of my vindictive hate.

Thine husband owneth castles, cannon, towers,

A council’s wisdom, and an army’s powers,
Mechanics, ministers, mouse-traps, and snares :

None of all these, alas! to me belong;

But heaven hath given me teeth, sharp, firm, and streng,
That I may rend in pieces royal heirs.