(AS MUCH FACT AS FANCY.)
[Illustration: "I had one curried, and found it most
excellent--something like tender tripe."--_Extract from Mr. Tuer's
Letter_.]
"Devil-fish" of VICTOR HUGO,
Dread _Pieuvre_ of caves where few go
But are made your palsied prey,
Where are now your gruesome glories,
Dwelt upon in shocking stories?
Realism a big bore is
"Octopus is cheap to-day!"
You who, worst of ocean's gluttons,
Swallowed man, his boots, and buttons,
Cooked in this familiar way?
You who, in the tales of dreamers,
Sucked down ships and swallowed steamers,
Made the prey of kitchen schemers?
"Octopus _is_ cheap to-day!"
Swallowed, _you_ colossal cuttle?
Nemesis is really subtle!
Carted on the Coster's tray,
Dressed in fashions culinary,
Which the cunning _chef_ will vary
After every vain vagary?
"Octopus is cheap to-day!"
Your huge arms, so strong, so many,
Like tarantula's _antennae_,
Just like tenderest tripe, they say!
Only wait a little longer,
Turtle soup--as from the Conger--
They will make from _you_, but stronger.
"Octopus is cheap to-day!"
Octopus--or is't Oct[=o]pus?--
Fame, that should outshine CANOPUS,
All too swiftly fleets away.
Yet our feelings it must harrow,
That _your_ demon-fame should narrow
To cook-bench and coster barrow.
"Devil-fish is cheap to-day!"
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