The Turk's belated answer was,
"I cannot do it, Sir, because——"
I sent to him again to say,
"It is your interest to obey."
He answered, with a sleepy grin,
"Why, what a hurry you are in!"
I urged him twice, I urged him thrice.
He would not listen to advice.
I took a rod, 'twas large and new,
Fit for the work I had to do.
Namely, that lazy Turk to tickle;
And then I put that rod in pickle.
The Turk he wrote to me and said,
"My agents are asleep in bed."
I wrote to him, I wrote it plain,
"Then you must wake them up again!"
I wrote it very large and clear;
I had it shouted in his ear.
But he was very stiff and proud;
He said, "You needn't shout so loud!"