’Twas all expectance and suspense,

And silence gagg’d the audience.

He, stooping down and looking big,

So wondrous well took off a pig,

All swore ’twas serious, and no joke,

For that, or underneath his cloak

He had concealed some grunting elf,

Or was a real hog himself.

A search was made—no pig was found—

With thund’ring claps the seats resound,