And truly 'twas a gallant thing to see that crowning show, Valour and love, and a king above, and the royal beasts below. The lions and the tigers roar'd with horrid laughing jaws; They bit, they glared, gave blows like beams, a wind went with their paws: With wallowing might and stifled roar they roll'd on one another, 'Till all the pit with sand and mane was in a thund'rous smother. The bloody foam above the bars came whisking through the air : Saith Francis then, "Faith, gentlemen, we're better here than there." De Loye's love overheard the king, a beauteous, lively dame, With smiling lips and sharp bright eyes, which always seem'd the same; She thought,-The count, my love, is brave as brave can be; He surely would do wond'rous things to show his love of me: King, ladies, lovers, all look on, the occasion is divine, I'll drop my glove, to prove his love; great glory will be mine. She dropp'd the glove, to prove his love, she look'd at him, and smiled; He bow'd, and in a moment leap'd among the lions "You drank of the well I warrant betimes ?" He to the Cornish-man said: But the Cornish-man smiled as the stranger spake, And sheepishly shook his head. "I hasten'd as soon as the wedding was done, I left my wife in the porch; But i'faith she had been wiser than I, For she took a bottle to church." SOUTHEY. The Well of Wisdom. IN Suabia there stood of old a town of honest fame, A sparkling fountain in the midst had gain'd a wondrous name; For in its waters lay a power to make the foolish wise: The Well of Wisdom it was call'd, a rare and welcome prize. Free access to that stream was had by all within the town; No matter what their thirst might be, uncheck'd they drank it down: But strangers, ere they dared to taste, must first permission gain Of the mayor and his councillors, of such an honour vain. D A horseman once pass'd through the town, and saw that fountain play, And stopp'd to let his thirsty steed drink of it by the way. Meanwhile the rider gazed around on many a structure fair; Turret and spire of olden times that pierced the quiet air. Such boldness soon attracted round the gaze of passers by The mayor ran in his robes of state, so quick was rumour's cry, That man and horse were at the well, the latter drinking down The precious gifts of Wisdom's Well, unsanction'd by the town. How swell'd the mayor's wrath! how loud his tones, as thus he spoke, "What's this I see? Who's this that hath our civic mandate broke? What wickedness mine eyes behold! what wisdom wasted so Upon a brute! as punishment, from this you shall not go, But stop a prisoner until our council's mind we hear." The rider stared; but, wiser grown, his steed prick'd up his ear, And, turning round, he left the town more quickly than he came, While watch and ward were gone to guard his exit from the same. Forgetting what the horse had drunk, they all had gone in state, To keep their prisoner secure, by guarding the wrong gate. Henceforward 'twas a law declared by solemn wig and gown, No rider with a thirsty horse should e'er pass through the town. FROM THE GERMAN. The Muffin-man. A LITTLE man, who muffins sold But tall he never grew. His arms were legs for length and size, When fallen leaves together flock, Borne in the equinoctial blast, Some thought the monster turn'd to dow And lay in buds the summer through, Or satyr, used the woods to rove, Drawn by the lure of oven-stove To be a muffin-man. The dwarf was not a churlish elf, To set his muffins off. He stood at doors, and talk'd with cooks, When others fled from nipping frost, One night his tinkle did not sound, 'Twas first of an eternal round, When, borne in arms, my infant eyo The nursery-maid was wont to cry, 66 See, John the muffin-man!" |