Crocodiles, Turtles, and Lizards. 15 



"As when a weary traveller, that strays 

 By muddy shore of broad seven-mouthed Nile, 

 Unweeting of the perilous, wand'ring ways, 

 Doth meet a cruel, crafty crocodile, 

 Which, in false grief hiding his harmful guile, 

 Doth weep full sore, and sheddeth tender tears ; 

 The foolish man, that pities all this while 

 His mournful plight, is swallowed up unawares. 

 Forgetful of his own, that minds another's cares." 



Southey puts into doggerel the legend of there being a 

 king of the crocodiles. A woman has her child eaten up 

 by one of the great river-lizards, and determines to complain 

 to their ruler : 



" The King of the crocodiles never does wrong, 

 He has no tail so stiff and strong, 

 He has no tail to strike and slay, 

 But he has ears to hear what I say." 



So she goes, against much advice (like the youth in Excelsior) 

 and eventually finds herself in the presence of the master 

 monster : 



" The King of -the crocodiles there was seen, 

 He sate on the eggs of the crocodile queen, 

 And all around, a numerous rout., 

 The young prince-crocodiles crawled about." 



And then she appeals to his Majesty in the words quoted 

 above, and having listened to her 



"You have said well, the King replies, 

 And fixed on her his little eyes; 

 Good woman, yes, you have said right, 

 But you have not described me quite. 

 I have no tail to strike and slay, 

 And I have ears to hear what you say, 

 I have teeth moreover, as you may see, 

 And I will make a meal of thee," 



which he promptly does. 



There is one more point about the " natural history " of 

 the great reptile that is worth noting, namely, the incon- 



