OR WALTONIAN CHRONICLE, 57 



Was talking aloud to a female, his cousin, 

 That old otter, he said, 

 Shall die ere we wed, 



Or I'll fall in defence of my kin and my chosen, 

 'Twas on, &c. 



4. 



An old fish in a hole heard his saying with pride, 

 Replied, my brave son, in thy spirit I glory, 

 That fin on your back, and those bars on your side, 

 Are honours of which none but I know the story ; 

 In the time of the gods, 

 When art conquered odds, 

 A Perch choked an otter, who presently died, 

 The gods then decreed, 

 For this daring deed, 



To all Perch their strange fins and the bars on their side. 

 'Twas on, &c. 



5. 



Since the gods condescended to notice us Perch, 

 Said the lusty young lover to her of his choosing, 

 For this blood thirsty otter I'll instantly search, 

 And die, though my life in the cause I am loosing j 

 'Twas no sooner said, 

 But away then he fled, 

 The otter was met always ready for battle j 

 He opened his jaws, 



