KING DRAKE.
"I'm king of the rock," said a silly old drake;
"And no one must dare my claim to partake.
I shall punish severely whoever comes near
Without my permission: let all the world hear!"
But out of the water, on the rock as he stands,
Comes up, as if praying, what seemed like two hands.
"Ah! here is a subject already for me!
Come, my son, and fear nothing, I'll spare you," said he.
But his majesty starts as if from a shock,
When he sees a big lobster make a bow on the rock.
"That is well," said the king; "but consider, my son,
This rock is my throne, and is only for one."
The lobster, however, is slow to obey;
He spreads himself out; he will not go away.
"Are you deaf?" cries King Drake, "go, pigmy! Get down!
How dare you thus brave a drake of renown?"
But the lobster, at this, nips King Drake in the leg.
"Oh, loosen your claw! Let go! Oh! I beg."
Tighter pinches the claw: "Rebellion! help! hear!
King Drake is in trouble: is nobody near?"
In vain are his kicks; his cries are in vain:
The lobster clings fast, in spite of the pain;
Nor lets go his hold till they get to the bank:
Then the king waddles home, giving up throne and rank.
From the German.
