FABLE XXXIX.
THE WHITE ELEPHANT.
Far in a certain eastern land
The people in great rev'rence stand
In presence of the elephant.
He's lodg'd in style most elegant
(That is, if so the brute be white),
And for him men fierce battles fight:
For prize so rare
States go to war;
He's always serv'd on golden plate;
And so divine is his estate
That when folks meet him walking forth,
They bow before him to the earth.
One of these people's pets one day
(A sound clear thinker by the way)
To his conductor said:—"I pray
Why are such honors shown to me?
For I am but a beast, you see."
"Ah! you're too humble," said his guide:
"We know what's due
To one like you;
And all our India knows beside,
That when our heroes come to die,
Their souls into your body fly,
And there for some time must endure.
Priests tell us so,
And hence we know.
The thing is sure."
