And look at all the delicate things, and cry, You would be gormandizing now I know; But it shall not be so!.. Home to your bread and water home, I tell ye!" "But," quoth the Traveller, "wherefore did he leave A flock that knew his saintly worth so well?" 66 Why," said the Landlord, "Sir, it so befell He heard unluckily of our intent To do him a great honour: and, you know, "What might this honour be?" the Traveller cried; Why, Sir," the Host replied, "We thought perhaps that he might one day leave us; And then should strangers have The good man's grave, A loss like that would naturally grieve us, For he'll be made a Saint of to be sure. Therefore we thought it prudent to secure His relics while we might; And so we meant to strangle him one night." THE KING OF THE CROCODILES. THE people at Isna, in Upper Eygpt, have a superstition concerning Crocodiles similar to that entertained in the West Indies; they say there is a King of them who resides near Isna, and who has ears, but no tail; and he possesses an uncommon regal quality, that of doing no harm. Some are bold enough to assert that they have seen him. Brown's Travels. "Now, Woman, why without your veil? "Oh! I have lost my darling boy, In whom my soul had all its joy; And I for sorrow have torn my veil, And sorrow hath made my.very heart pale. "Oh, I have lost my darling child, "He did not venture in to swim, He only stoop'd to drink at the brim ; And struck with his tail and swept him away. "Now take me in your boat, I pray, For down the river lies my way, And me to the Reed-Island bring, For I will go to the Crocodile King. "The King of the Crocodiles never does wrong, He has no tail so stiff and strong, But he has ears to hear what I say. "And to the King I will complain, The man replied, " No, Woman, no, "Then lend me now your little boat, And I will down the river float. I tell thee that no worldly thing Shall keep me from the Crocodile King." The Woman she leapt into the boat, And down the river alone did she float, |