CURIOUS DWELLERS OF SWAMP AND FOREST. 163 



5. "I've seen it, sir, as well as you, 

 And must again affirm it bine ; 

 At leisure I the beast surveyed, 

 Extended in the cooling shade." 



6. ""lis green ! 'tis green, sir, I assure ye." 

 " Green ! " cries the other, in a fury ; 

 "Why, sir, d'ye think I've lost my eyes ?" 

 "'Twere no great loss," the friend repL'es ; 

 "For if they always serve you thus, 

 You'll find them but of little use." 



7. So high at last the contest rose, 



From words they almost came to blows, 

 When luckily came by a third ; 

 To him the question they referred, 

 And be£2;ed he'd tell them if he knew 

 Whether the thing was green or blue . 



8. "Sirs," cried the umpire, " cease your pother ; 

 The creature's neither one nor t'other ; 



I caught the animal last night, 

 And viewed him o'er by candle-light ; 

 I marked it well, 'twas black as jet — 

 You stare, but, sirs, I've got it yet, 

 And can produce it." "Pray, sir, do ; 

 I'll lay my life the thing is blue." 



9. "And I'll be sworn that when ye've seen 

 The reptile, you'll pronounce it green." 

 "Well, then, at once to end this doubt," 

 Replies the man, "I'll turn him out ; 

 And when before your eyes I've set him, 

 If you don't find him black, I'll eat him," 

 He said ; then full before their sight 

 Produced the beast, and lo ! 'twas white. 



Merrick. 



