The Robbers and the Ass

TWO Thieves were fighting for a prize,
A Donkey newly stolen ; sell or not to sell—
That was the question—bloody fists, black eyes ;
While they fought gallantly and well,
A third thief happening to pass,
Rode gaily off upon the ass.
The ass is some poor province it may be ;
The thieves, that gracious potentate, or this,
Austria, Turkey, or say Hungary ;
Instead of two, I vow I've set down three
(The world has almost had enough of this),
And often neither will the province win :
For third thief stepping in,
'Mid their debate and noisy fray,
With the disputed donkey rides away.