So Maude and Willie ate of the Fern Seeds and became invisible, even to the Zankiwank, who was dreadfully distressed and went about calling them by name. In a spirit of mischief Willie pinched his exceedingly thin legs, making him jump as high as an April rain-bow, and causing him to be called to order by the Court Usher.
"And now," said Titania, waving her wand and calling the Flowers and Birds to her Court, "let the Jackdaw sing his well-known War Song."
"If you please, your majesty, I have left the music at home and forgotten the words," pleaded the Jackdaw.
"Very well, then sing it without either or you shall not have a new coat until the Spring."
So the Jackdaw stepped forth and sang as below, while the Rook irreverently cleared his throat above for his friend, and cried "Caw! Caw!"
The Jackdaw's Jest.
If peaches grew on apple trees,
And frogs were made of glass;
And bulls and cows were turned to bees,
And rooks were made of grass;
If boys and girls were made of figs,
If figs were made of dates,
Upon the sands they'd dance like grigs
With bald and oval pates.
If mortals had got proper sense
And were not quite so mad;
Their mood would make them more intense,
To make each other glad:
If only they would understand
The things that no one knows,
They'd live like fairies in the land,
And never come to blows.