THE APE AND THE COCKATOO

Said an ape in the Zoo

To a white cockatoo:

"Your beak is uncommonly strong!"

Said the white cockatoo

To the ape in the Zoo,

"And your tail is excessively long!"

Said the ape in the Zoo

To the white cockatoo:

"Remarks are exceedingly rude!

And you must look out,

And see what you're about,

Or I'll seize and run off with your food!"

Then the white cockatoo

Really furious grew,

And shouted as loud as he could:

"You black-faced Wanderoo![B]

With your white whiskers, too,

Do you think to insult me is good?"

'Tween the ape in the Zoo

And the white cockatoo

Then furious battle ensued,

And the cockatoo bit

The ape into a fit,

And the ape snatched the cockatoo's food.

[B] An ape is a Wanderoo in Ceylon.

Sweet Amaryllis by a spring's

Soft and soul-melting murmurings

Slept, and thus sleeping thither flew

A robin red-breast, who, at view,

Not seeing her at all to stir,

Brought leaves and moss to cover her.

But while he perking there did pry,

About the arch of either eye,

The lid began to let out day,

At which poor robin flew away,

And seeing her not dead, but all disleaved,

He chirp'd for joy to find himself deceived.

Rhymes Old and New : collected by M.E.S. Wright · 第 70 / 114 题