Devising each in turn some cruel trick,
Flushed with their sport, egged on by passers-by,
While for the martyred toad none gave a sigh.
Poor ugly thing! But nature made it so;
For this alone its blood was caused to flow.
It tried to flee; one foot was severed quite,
Which gave the heartless band renewed delight.
Its gouged-out eye hung down; half-blind it sought
Some sheltering reeds; its efforts came to naught.
Its mangled form had been, you would have sworn,