Signor Topsy-Turvy's wonderful magic lantern or The World turned upside down. By the author of "My Mother," and other poems [Ann and Jane Taylor]. Illustrated with twenty-four engravings |
 |
THE ASS TURNED MILLER.
|
 | Signor Topsy-Turvy's wonderful magic lantern |  |
25
THE ASS TURNED MILLER.
As a frolicsome ass
Was at play on the grass,
While her master was sleeping in bed;
A funny idea,
As will shortly appear,
Came hastily into her head.
Was at play on the grass,
While her master was sleeping in bed;
A funny idea,
As will shortly appear,
Came hastily into her head.
Thought she, “what a while
“I with labour and toil,
“Have been a poor slave, and am still;
“Now 'twould be a droll joke
“To give master the yoke,
“And be myself lord of the mill.
“I with labour and toil,
“Have been a poor slave, and am still;
“Now 'twould be a droll joke
“To give master the yoke,
“And be myself lord of the mill.
26
“And thus it shall be:”
So away trotted she,
And (if one may credit the fable),
She hobbled up stairs,
Took her lord unawares,
And drove him down into the stable.
So away trotted she,
And (if one may credit the fable),
She hobbled up stairs,
Took her lord unawares,
And drove him down into the stable.
The bridle and bit
She soon made to fit,
And taking a stick for her goad,
She laid a large sack
Full of corn on his back,
And drove him along on the road.
She soon made to fit,
And taking a stick for her goad,
She laid a large sack
Full of corn on his back,
And drove him along on the road.
And while on the way,
Says the donkey, “I say!
“You must now be my slave, if you please;
“So your duty confess!”
The poor miller said, “Yes,”
And straightway fell down on his knees.
Says the donkey, “I say!
27
“So your duty confess!”
The poor miller said, “Yes,”
And straightway fell down on his knees.
Again on the way,
Says the donkey, “I say!
“I wish you'd make haste to get in,
“For the whip hurts my paws,
“I fancy because
“I have such a delicate skin.
Says the donkey, “I say!
“I wish you'd make haste to get in,
“For the whip hurts my paws,
“I fancy because
“I have such a delicate skin.
The miller said, “True,
“'Tis too much for you,
“Do pray let me hold it, your honour!”
The donkey complies,
When to her surprise,
Her master straight lays it upon her.
“'Tis too much for you,
“Do pray let me hold it, your honour!”
The donkey complies,
When to her surprise,
Her master straight lays it upon her.
28
With blows on each side,
He salutes her brown hide,
And lays them on thicker and faster;
So it soon came to pass,
That the poor silly ass
Submitted in tears to her master.
He salutes her brown hide,
And lays them on thicker and faster;
So it soon came to pass,
That the poor silly ass
Submitted in tears to her master.
Now should master or miss,
Exclaim, what of all this!
I reply, that the ass in her fetters,
Those people may suit,
Who like this silly brute,
Attempt to rule over their betters.
Exclaim, what of all this!
I reply, that the ass in her fetters,
Those people may suit,
Who like this silly brute,
Attempt to rule over their betters.
J.
| Signor Topsy-Turvy's wonderful magic lantern | |