Page:Florian - The Fables, 1888.djvu/111

As he had oft his master seen—
"Here you may see," said he, "the sun,
His pristine glory just begun;
And presently the moon you'll see,
And the first pair's felicity,
Adam and Eve, and all our race—
Behold what beauty! and what grace!
       Was ever anything so fine?
And here you'll see a sight divine."

But how could they behold the sight,
Where all was close and dark as night?
However much their eyes they strain,
And strive to see, they strive in vain.
"My faith!" th' impatient cat exclaim'd,
"Of all the wonders he has nam'd—
Of all the sights he's dwelt upon,
I have not seen a single one."
"Neither have I," the dog replied;
"I've not a single thing descried."
The turkey something saw, he thought,
But could not tell exactly what.
Yet little this concern'd Jacqueau,
Who rattled on like Cicero.
His style was good and masterly;
His language choice, and diction free;
But one thing he'd forgotten quite—
Although he work'd his lantern right,
He had not put therein a light!