.vil831.] The Vision of Beasts. 479 



" A change came o'er the spirit of my dream," 



Which thus to me did seem — 

 I saw a wolf the vile lago act, 



(It is a fact). 

 With look and gesture quite emphatical ; 

 And the Othello there 

 (A dingy bear) 

 Did hug his Desdemona so dramatical, 

 I thought that she would faint 

 With the restraint. 

 She was the pig-faced lady ; such a star 

 I never saw upon the boards — for she 

 Moved with such grace and modesty, 

 'Twas said she did the character by far 

 Superior to a Phillips, and the rest 

 That wear the tragic vest. 



Again, when this was gone. 



Another change past on. 

 Then came the fell hyena as the Jew, 



Performing Shylock to the very life ; 

 Howling so very fiercely for his due. 



And sharpening up his knife 

 So very Israelitishly, I thought 



" The pound of flesh" he sought. 

 If even of pork, would raise a question. 

 Whether 'twould disagree with his digestion. 



Another change — another change — and lo ! 

 Came, gliding " on the light fantastic toe," 

 A pair of boas, that appeared to view 



Dancing a pas de deux : 

 And then with pirouette, and leap, and sally, 

 A troop of monkeys formed the corps du ballet ; 

 While a vast flock of parrots on the wing 

 Did the full chorus sing. 

 Methought that all at once 1 heard 

 The voice of beast and bird. 

 Roaring and screaming horridly around. 

 With most discordant sound. 

 And then, as up the curtain drew. 

 Upon the frightened fiddlers on they flew, 

 Who soon a quicker movement made 



Than they had ever played. 

 Then on the shrieking pit they fell 

 Pell-mell ; 

 And made, soon scaring off the men and wenches, 

 A beggarly account of empty benches. 

 I tried escaping, sorely pressed ; 

 But, oh ! the horror ! — First I heard a howl. 

 And next a growl. 



And then a tiger You may guess the rest. 



I gave a scream. 

 That seemed to shake old Drury's firmest beam. 

 And spoiled — my dream. 



R. F. W. 



