TALBOT485

1807, October 29^th 1807

the Quadrupeds envied the Bipeds’ grand feast

and said they would have such another at least

so the Lion declared he would send his cards out

To all the wild beasts that should come to his rout

The Tiger was sulky and sent his excuse

but the Leopard he came all so spotted and spruce.

from Zembla’s cold shores came old Bruin the Bear

Who had for his nosegay a Juniper rare.

A Rein Deer from Lapland then shot forth his way

from Tornea’s Lake he came all in one Day.

The furious Polecat did not travel a mile

for she happened to live by by the neighbouring stile.

The Camel from Africa’s dry Deserts came

by coming so far she was dreadfully lame.

The Hyena so cunning, so artful, so false,

Propos’d to the Camel to strike up a walze

As they journey’d along the time to beguile

Before they arriv’d at the fair English Isle

the Buffalo travelled from India’s scorched plains

And the sharp eyed Lynx from Sahara’s domains.

The Camelopardalis monstrously high

Stalk’d forth from Caffraria not very nigh.

The Elephant noble, majestic and big,

Sent word for the feast he did not care a fig,

At home he had Palm trees on which he could munch

For dinner, for Supper, for breakfast or nunch. ¹

The Rhinoceros mighty with huge horrid tusks

The wild Boar continually chewing of husks

The Jackall, the Monkey, the Panther, and Hare,

Hippopotamus, Ibex, and Zebra came there,

And the little white rabbit with coquelicot eyes

Who got up in the morning just at sunrise

The slender legg’d stag with fine branching horns

Which sometimes indeed got entangled in thorns

My dear Aunt

I will send the rest when I have made it –

I am your aff^te nephew

William Henry Fox Talbot

1807

* born Feb 1800 ²