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 |
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THE ASS TURNED ELEPHANT.
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 | Signor Topsy-Turvy's wonderful magic lantern |  |
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THE ASS TURNED ELEPHANT.
An ass who was vain, and who thought it was hard,
That nobody shew'd her the smallest regard,
Determin'd no longer to bear such neglect,
But make people pay her a little respect.
That nobody shew'd her the smallest regard,
Determin'd no longer to bear such neglect,
But make people pay her a little respect.
Now the means that occurr'd to her donkeyship's brain,
Was to try a kind elephant's trunk to obtain;
For she thought with this badge of distinction at hand,
Tho' not quite as large, she should be quite as grand.
Was to try a kind elephant's trunk to obtain;
For she thought with this badge of distinction at hand,
Tho' not quite as large, she should be quite as grand.
So she went to a friend of a neighbourly heart,
And boldly requested the loan of that part.
The elephant, looking as grave as a monk,
Reluctantly handed the donkey his trunk.
And boldly requested the loan of that part.
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Reluctantly handed the donkey his trunk.
So bearing her present, delighted she goes,
And fastens it on to the end of her nose;
And tho' to be sure it weigh'd heavy upon her,
She put up with that for the sake of the honour.
And fastens it on to the end of her nose;
And tho' to be sure it weigh'd heavy upon her,
She put up with that for the sake of the honour.
Thus trotted her ladyship on the highway,
Fast closing her mouth up for fear she should bray;
While, scorning to nod to the donkies that pass'd her,
She proudly stalk'd up to the door of her master.
Fast closing her mouth up for fear she should bray;
While, scorning to nod to the donkies that pass'd her,
She proudly stalk'd up to the door of her master.
“Well done!” exclaim'd he (not alarm'd in the least),
“This is a convenient new limb to my beast;
“Besides the two panniers she'd formerly bear,
“I can swing my great basket on this, I declare.”
“This is a convenient new limb to my beast;
“Besides the two panniers she'd formerly bear,
“I can swing my great basket on this, I declare.”
“Alas!” she exclaim'd, and her countenance sunk,
“What then, does he know me in spite of my trunk?
“I'm not your old donkey, believe me, my lord,
“But a handsome young elephant come from abroad.”
“What then, does he know me in spite of my trunk?
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“But a handsome young elephant come from abroad.”
“For shame!” cried her master, “such stories to tell,
“I know you, my stubborn old donkey, too well;
“Did you think, silly brute! upon me to impose,
“By wearing that thing at the end of your nose?”
“I know you, my stubborn old donkey, too well;
“Did you think, silly brute! upon me to impose,
“By wearing that thing at the end of your nose?”
The donkey, alarm'd at this insolence shown her,
Now said, she must carry it back to its owner;
Who, having some business elsewhere, she pretended
Had got her to take it to town to be mended.
Now said, she must carry it back to its owner;
Who, having some business elsewhere, she pretended
Had got her to take it to town to be mended.
“O no! for the future 'tis yours, never fear,
“I like it so well you shall keep it, my dear;
“So now hold your tongue, if you please,” said the man
“And bear your new burden as well as you can.”
“I like it so well you shall keep it, my dear;
“So now hold your tongue, if you please,” said the man
“And bear your new burden as well as you can.”
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Poor ass, thus oblig'd to submit to her fate,
Repented her pride, but repented too late;
As every one must, who will seek admiration,
In ways that can never belong to his station.
Repented her pride, but repented too late;
As every one must, who will seek admiration,
In ways that can never belong to his station.
J.
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