 | Beasts at law, or zoologian jurisprudence |  |
The court were now convened in state
To enter on the grand Achate;
And beasts and birds of every size
Were throng'd around with staring eyes;
The lordly Lion took the chair,
Whose smile was hope, whose frown despair;
Before the terror of whose look
The savage tribes with tremor shook.
A Tuscan Boar upon his right,
Whose rage once put a host to flight,
Supports his prince; at whose left hand
A royal Tiger takes his stand:
For here 'twas also understood
Judges should be of noble blood.
With bamboos arm'd, a Monkey band,
Assembled thick on every hand,
To summon witnesses, or keep
The peace between the dogs and sheep;
And twelve grave Bulls empannelled were
The jury in this grand affair:
The Elephant, with lofty port,
High-sheriff of the noble court,
Conducted prisoner to the place,
To answer plaintiff in the case.
To enter on the grand Achate;
And beasts and birds of every size
Were throng'd around with staring eyes;
The lordly Lion took the chair,
Whose smile was hope, whose frown despair;
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The savage tribes with tremor shook.
A Tuscan Boar upon his right,
Whose rage once put a host to flight,
Supports his prince; at whose left hand
A royal Tiger takes his stand:
For here 'twas also understood
Judges should be of noble blood.
With bamboos arm'd, a Monkey band,
Assembled thick on every hand,
To summon witnesses, or keep
The peace between the dogs and sheep;
And twelve grave Bulls empannelled were
The jury in this grand affair:
The Elephant, with lofty port,
High-sheriff of the noble court,
Conducted prisoner to the place,
To answer plaintiff in the case.
| Beasts at law, or zoologian jurisprudence | |