(108

‘Your humble slave and servant,
For ever I must be;

Since you from giant bondage
This night have rescued me.

My mother was a princess,
Whom you last month have seen
Disguised as a gipsy—
She gave to you the bean.
The Giant thought to eat me—
The thought was most unpleasant ;
Though p’raps you'll think the right
To do with any pheasant. _ [thing
That wretched monster seized me,
And even raised his knife :
I watched his hungry features,
And trembled for my life.

’Twas then my mother changed me,
To save me from his power ;

Though still I’ve been his victim,
Since that most direful hour.

For really it was trying,
And I felt most absurd ;

Though oft P’'d sung that queer song,
“Oh, that I were a bird !”

A rat brought me a letter—
He clambered up the tree,

To tell me you were coming,
That you would set me free.

I heard you at the panel,
So you may well suppose

That I was much excited ;
So lost at dominoes,

 

)

But if you’d like a game, sir,
I’m ready at your will:

I think that I could beat you—
You then could mark my skill’

But Jack declines at present :
‘Another time, my dear ;

There’s much I wish to see now,
And much from you would hear.’

First : have you other monsters
Residing in this tree?

I’m eating some one’s breakfast,
Who p’raps may dine off me.’

‘There’s no one here to fear, sir,
Unless it be the lion ;

He’s little had to live on,
We'll find him food to die on.

You will not want these old apes,
Theirs is a roughish skin ;

Their flesh by no means tempting ;
On them let him begin.’

He raised the potted monkeys,
Served up with treacle-sauce ;
And dragged them to the entrance.

The lion’s chained, of course.

But no, the lion’s rampant,
His bones nigh through his skin ;
They’re welcomed with a low bow,
The monkeys with a grin.

“A second course must follow,
Delay and he'll be vext ;
And being over-hungry,
Is sure to eat you next.