Page:Florian - The Fables, 1888.djvu/110

       And on its meaning ponder well.
A man whose business 'twas to show
       A magic lantern round,
Had a fine monkey, hight Jacqueau,
The nicest trickster ever found.
He could dance, and leap, and spring;
Was great at tight-rope balancing;
A thousand tricks this Jacqueau knew,
Which custom to his master drew.

One day his master went away,
To celebrate some holiday,
And left him at the inn to stay.
There entered then this monkey's head,
The strangest fancy ever bred:
For what does he but straightway go,
       To cats and dogs,
       To hens and hogs,
       To geese and ducks,
       And turkey-cocks,
To come and see the magic show.

"Walk in, Messieurs; I nothing ask;
Believe me, 'tis a pleasing task!"

They take their seats; the lantern's brought;
He makes a speech most highly wrought,
Which—as we say in modern lore—
Was welcom'd with a perfect roar.
Encouraged by the warm applause,
The window shutters then he draws,
Into the lantern puts a screen