183].] [ m ] • 



If THE VISION OF BEASTS. 



li " All the world's a stage." 



?.>■■ 



Life is a drama — so hath Shakspeare said ; 

 The world the theatre on which 'tis played ; 

 Nature the prompter — but I needs must say 

 The devil olten mingles in the play. 

 Sometimes he acts the license?-, and then 

 He blots out all that's sacred with his pen ; 

 And sometimes, too, if truth may be expressed. 

 He damns as often as the rest. 

 Five acts dramatic laws demand, 

 (Some say 'tis seven — 

 The other two perhaps are spent in heaven). 

 And into these the diiFerent scenes expand ; 

 First infancy, childhood, and youth ; 

 And then, forsooth. 

 Comes manhood and old age ; 

 Till death draws down the curtain on the stage. 

 But why should man 

 Monopolize this plan ? 

 I feel convinced it is a thing that suits 

 All kind of animals. 

 The civilized and cannibals — 

 Even from human nature down to brutes. 

 I'm a philozoologist, and like to see 

 All lively things. 

 Whether with legs or wings. 

 Treated with kindness and humanity. 



" I had a dream, which was not all a dream :" 



Methought I went to Drury, where of old 

 Shakspeare's immortal scenes had been the theme ; 



And there did I behold 

 Instead of Romeo, or the jealous Moor, 

 Revengeful Jew, or melancholy Dane, 

 Or those bright things of female portraiture. 

 The murdering lady with the clotted stain. 

 The gentle Juliet, and Venetian fair. 

 Which once were there — 

 I saw strange shapes go to and fro. 

 Whose forms I did not know. 

 I asked the meaning of so odd a scene 



Of one whom once I knew 

 As an old member of that beast- loving crew. 

 The Zoological Society ; 



And he 

 Informed me that there late had been 

 A second Martin sent among the brutes. 

 To aid them in their pleasures and pursuits ; 



The first had taught us not to hurt 'cm. 

 But he, good man, was striving to convert *em. 

 He preached from Shaks[)uare, whence they were to find 



The plaudits of mankind ; 

 And taught that pleasure was the only good 

 For flesh and blood. 



