As books make out, you would not now, I’ll bet,

Be ravenous enough to gnaw the grass.”

“And if you were as big, or half as big,

As you believe you are,” snarled Number Two,

“You’d be a lion of the largest size

Minus his roar, and pluck, and dignity.”

Oh, listen, lady, as the lay runs on!

“Please to observe I want no impudence

From any fifteen-nickel quadruped

Of your peculiar shape,” snapped Number One.