A MONKEY who, by many a prank, Had served a strolling mountebank, And long had sought, with curious eye, The secret of his arts to spy, Grew so inflated with conceit, He swore that there was not a feat His master did, to charm the crowd, But he could do, -- were he allowed To show his skill. So, on a day When Mister Showman was away, And Jocko chanced to stay at home, He summoned all his friends to come And note how surely he would raise The customary shouts of praise. He made his bow, and straight began To play the "India-Rubber man," Who in contorted shapes appears, And stands -- at last -- upon his ears! Next, dances on the swinging wire; Then, as applauding shouts inspire To bolder deeds, he mounts with ease And safely braves the high trapeze: Then takes a musket, and with skill Performs the Prussian soldier's drill; At last -- as was his master's way, To close the wonders of the day -- He brings the "Magic Lantern" out, Darkens the room, and talks about The curious things that on the screen By watchful eyes will now be seen; Then moves the plates of painted glass From side to side, and as they pass, Announces in a pompous speech The name and character of each Delightful scene that greets their eyes! What can it mean? -- no cheers arise! A storm of hisses come instead, So fierce the frightened monkey fled, And, having reached a safer place, Was told the cause of his disgrace; To wit, that, while all else was right, His "Magic Lantern" had no light! MORAL. How bootless are the author's pains Who lacks illuminating brains! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ODE WRITTEN IN [THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR] 1746 by WILLIAM COLLINS (1721-1759) THE CASTAWAY by WILLIAM COWPER THE RAGGEDY MAN by JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY A FAREWELL TO AMERICA, TO MRS. S. W. by PHILLIS WHEATLEY THE STEAM-ENGINE: CANTO 9. VISION OF THE WORLD by T. BAKER AURORA LEIGH: BOOK 5 by ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING THE RING AND THE BOOK: BOOK 6. GIUSEPPE CAPONSACCHI by ROBERT BROWNING |