Then off to other parts they'd range To gather 'round some creature strange; To watch the movements of the bear, Or at the spotted serpents stare. Around the sleeping lion long They stood an interested throng, Debating o'er its strength of limb, Its heavy mane or visage grim. |
| The mammoth turtle from its pen Was driven 'round and 'round again, And though the coach proved rather slow They kept it hours upon the go. Said one, "Before your face and eyes I'll take that snake from where it lies, And like a Hindoo of the East, Benumb and charm the crawling beast, Then twist him 'round me on the spot And tie him in a sailor's knot." Another then was quick to shout, |
"We'll leave that snake performance out!
I grant you all the power you claim
To charm, to tie, to twist and tame;
But let me still suggest you try
Your art when no one else is nigh.
Of all the beasts that creep or crawl
From Rupert's Land to China's wall,
In torrid, mild, or frigid zone,
The snake is best to let alone."
| Against this counsel, seeming good, At least a score of others stood. Said one, "My friend, suppress alarm; There's nothing here to threaten harm. Be sure the power that mortals hold Is not denied the Brownies bold." |
So, harmlessly as silken bands
The snakes were twisted in their hands.
Some hauled them freely 'round the place;
Some braided others in a trace;
And every knot to sailors known,
Was quickly tied, and quickly shown.
Thus, 'round from cage to cage they went,
For some to smile, and some comment
|
On Nature's way of dealing out To this a tail, to that a snout |
Of extra length, and then deny
To something else a fair supply.
—But when the bear and tiger growled,
And wolf and lynx in chorus howled,
And starting from its broken sleep,
The lion rose with sudden leap,
And, bounding 'round the rocking cage,
With lifted mane, roared loud with rage,
And thrust its paws between the bars,
Until it seemed to shake the stars,—