And oft did majesty the dumpling grapple.

“’Tis monstrous, monstrous hard, indeed?” he cried;

“What makes it, pray, so hard?”—The dame replied,

Low curtseying, “Please your majesty, the apple.”

“Very astonishing, indeed! strange thing!”

Turning the dumpling round, rejoined the king;

“’Tis most extraordinary then, all this is—

It beats Pinetti’s conjuring all to pieces—

Strange I should never of a dumpling dream!

But, Goody, tell me where, where, where’s the seam?”