The Rat is the concisest Tenant. 1
He pays no Rent.
Repudiates the Obligation－
On Schemes intent
Balking our Wit 5
To sound or circumvent－
Hate cannot harm
A Foe so reticent－
Neither Decree prohibit him－
Lawful as Equilibrium.
He pays no Rent.
Repudiates the Obligation－
On Schemes intent
Balking our Wit 5
To sound or circumvent－
Hate cannot harm
A Foe so reticent－
Neither Decree prohibit him－
Lawful as Equilibrium.
(F.1369/J.1356)
[1] Rat:: a worker who refuses to strike. (OED rat. 4.d A workman who refuses to strike along with others, or takes a striker's place; also (esp. among printers), one who works for lower wages than the ordinary (or trade-union) rate. Chiefly U.S.)
concisest tenant:: a most simple denizen, who does not fight for one's right.
[2] Rent:: a schism in opinion, a rupture of harmony.
[3] Obligation:: strike is not a law but obligation.
[6] circumvent:: to avoid the strike.
[8] reticent:: doing nothing.
[9] Decree:: regulation or law does not prohibit him not to strike.
[10] Equilibrium:: equal treatment between his employee and the union.
It seems that the "Printers' Union" sought to get up a "strike" in The Courier office, and failed. One of the printers in that office, named Lindsay, who declined to act with the "Union," incurred there by the ill-will of Ward, who was a "Union" man. . . . calling him a "d－d rat," (i.e. one who works for a rate of wages less than that established by the "Union,") and finally striking him in the face. ─ The Musical World (1858)