Sonnet: Before He Went

BEFORE he went to feed with owls and bats

Nebuchadnezzar had an ugly dream,

Worse than an Hus'if's when she thinks her cream

Made a Naumachia for mice and rats.

So scared, he sent for that 'Good King of Cats'

Young Daniel, who soon did pluck away the beam

From out his eye, and said he did not deem

The sceptre worth a straw his Cushions old door-mats.

A horrid nightmare similar somewhat

Of late has haunted a most motley crew,

Most loggerheads and Chapmen we are told

That any Daniel tho' he be a sot

Can make the lying lips turn pale of hue

By belching out 'ye are that head of Gold.'

John Keats