Officers of state ran septemvious, seeking an ape, to counteract the bloodthirsty tomfoolery of the human species.
Perdition! The duke was out of apes. There were buffaloes, lizards, Turks, leopards; any unreasonable beast but the right one.
“Why, there used to be an ape about,” said one. “If I stand here I saw him.”
So there used; but the mastiff had mangled the sprightly creature for stealing his supper; and so fulfilled the human precept, “Soyez de votre siecle!”
In this emergency the seneschal cast his despairing eyes around; and not in vain. A hopeful light shot into them.
“Here is this,” said he, sotto voce. “Surely this will serve: 'tis altogether apelike, doublet and hose apart.”
“Nay,” said the chancellor peevishly, “the Princess Marie would hang us. She doteth on this.”
Now this was our friend Giles, strutting, all unconscious, in cloth of gold.
Then Dr. Remedy grew impatient, and bade flay a dog.
“A dog is next best to an ape; only it must be a dog all of one colour.”