That he bit his sister’s thumb,
For the contribution box goes round
And the lamb is deaf and dumb!
Tennyson.
Prithee, good pedagogue, we lend our ears
To feed on explanation. It appears
That this pet lamb has passed the world’s estate
Of treachery, and love that loves to prate
Of love, while loving but the sound
The gnashing lips that bear it breathe around,