About them frisking played 

 All beasts of the earth since wild, and of all 



chase 



In wood or wilderness, forest or den ; 

 Sporting the lion ramped, and in his paw 

 Dandled the kid ; * bears, tigers, ounces, pards, 

 Gambolled before them ; the unwieldy elephant, 

 To make them mirth, used all his might, and 



wreathed 

 His lithe proboscis. 



<8 It is a pity that no mention is made of the 

 hippopotamus. Many of us have always felt 

 singularly drawn to this genial monster who 

 has the remarkable merit of being at the same 

 time supremely massive and (when he opens 

 his mouth) undeniably hollow. Good humour 

 shines in every square yard of his face, and his 

 kindness of heart is so great that he could 

 hardly bring himself to tread on your foot, 

 certainly not without the apology that any 

 gentleman gladly grants to another whom he 

 has unwittingly injured or offended. His bill 

 6 



