 | Puss in boots, and the Marquis of Carabas |  |
23
PLATE V.
Now the king of the country had been a long time
In a fit of despondency truly sublime;
It was not that over his realm of delight,
War, famine, or pestilence stole with their blight;
In a fit of despondency truly sublime;
It was not that over his realm of delight,
War, famine, or pestilence stole with their blight;
It was not that Parliament thwarted his will,
Oh, no! it was something more terrible still;
My reader will scarcely his anguish disdain,
When I tell him he could not—a partridge obtain!
Oh, no! it was something more terrible still;
My reader will scarcely his anguish disdain,
When I tell him he could not—a partridge obtain!
The fields, it is true, had their usual supply,
But the creatures had grown so remarkably shy,
Not a sportsman could boast one from near or from far,
Though true in his aim, as the steel to the star.
But the creatures had grown so remarkably shy,
Not a sportsman could boast one from near or from far,
Though true in his aim, as the steel to the star.
Pussy went to a cornfield; his boots he threw by,
Lest the birds at their noise should be frightened and fly;
Then opened his sack—held it fast by a string,
And behind a thick hedge, he lay ready to spring.
Lest the birds at their noise should be frightened and fly;
Then opened his sack—held it fast by a string,
And behind a thick hedge, he lay ready to spring.
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The birds saw the crumbs, in the bag, that were set,
One after another hopped into the net;
Then Puss drew the string up, and whipping the sack,
Birds and all, o'er his arm, to the palace went back.
One after another hopped into the net;
Then Puss drew the string up, and whipping the sack,
Birds and all, o'er his arm, to the palace went back.
The monarch was cross, as a monarch could be,
“I've not had a dinner these six weeks,” said he;
The Parliament sat, but no favor could win,
When a gay lord in waiting came hastily in:
“I've not had a dinner these six weeks,” said he;
The Parliament sat, but no favor could win,
When a gay lord in waiting came hastily in:
“A person, who strangely resembles a cat,
With his tail, and his whiskers, his fur, and all that,
Stands without, with a present of partridges, Sire,
Which he brought, as he says, by his master's desire.”
With his tail, and his whiskers, his fur, and all that,
Stands without, with a present of partridges, Sire,
Which he brought, as he says, by his master's desire.”
“The meeting's dissolved!” quick the monarch did cry,
“What are kingdoms to me when a partridge is nigh?
What ho! let him enter!—this game-keeper rare!”
Pussy came, bowing low, 'mid the general stare.
“What are kingdoms to me when a partridge is nigh?
What ho! let him enter!—this game-keeper rare!”
Pussy came, bowing low, 'mid the general stare.
And turning his head, lest the sight of the birds
Should tempt him, he emptied his bag with these words:
“The Marquis of Carabas bids me entreat
To lay his poor gift at your majesty's feet.”
Should tempt him, he emptied his bag with these words:
“The Marquis of Carabas bids me entreat
To lay his poor gift at your majesty's feet.”
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“By St. George,” said the king, “you're a messenger fine!
Why comes not to court this fair marquis of mine?
Now hasten, Sir Walter, and bid, do you see?
The Chancellor of the Exchequer come hither to me!”
Why comes not to court this fair marquis of mine?
Now hasten, Sir Walter, and bid, do you see?
The Chancellor of the Exchequer come hither to me!”
He came—“My Lord Chancellor, fill up yon sack
With what gold the game-keeper can bear on his back.”
(You can see in the picture the Chancellor gray,
And the members of Parliament stalking away.)
With what gold the game-keeper can bear on his back.”
(You can see in the picture the Chancellor gray,
And the members of Parliament stalking away.)
| Puss in boots, and the Marquis of Carabas | |