be merry and gay.
The Panther ferocious--the Lynx of quick sight,
The Preacher[1] and Glutton[1] came hither that night.
The Camel, so often with burthens opprest,
Was glad for a while from his labour to rest.
The Sloth, when invited, got up with much pain,
Just groan'd out, "Ah, No!" and then laid down again.
The Fox, near the hen-roost, no longer kept watch,
But hied to the feast, better viands to catch.
The Monkey, so cunning, and full of his sport, [p 8]
To show _All his Talents_ came to this resort.
The Dog and Grimalkin[2] from service releas'd,
Expected good snacks, at the end of the feast:
The first at the gate, as a centinel stood;
The last kept the Rats and the Mice from the food.
The crowd of strange quadrupeds seen at the ball,
'Twere tedious and needless to mention them all;
To shorten the story, suffice it to say
Some scores, nay some hundreds, attended that day.--

[Illustration: _"The Dog at the gate as a centinel stood." p. 8._]

But most of the tame and domestical kind, [p 9]
For fear of some stratagem, tarried behind.
Due caution is prudent! but laws had been made--
No Beast, on that night, should another invade.
Before we go farther, 'tis proper to state,
Each female was asked to attend with her mate:
Of these, many came to this fete of renown,
But some were prevented by causes well known.
Now Sol had retir'd to the ocean to sleep:
The Guests had arriv'd their gay vigils to keep--
Their hall was a lawn, of sufficient extent.
Well skirted with trees, the rude winds to prevent:
The thick-woven branches deep curtains display'd; [p 10]
And heaven's high arch a grand canopy made.
Some thousands of lamps, fix'd to poplars were seen,
That shone most resplendent, red, yellow, and green.
When forms, introductions, and such were gone through,
'Twas quickly resolv'd the gay dance to pursue;
The musical band, on a terrace appearing,
Perform'd many tunes that enchanted the hearing;
The Ape, on the haut-boy much science display'd--
The Monkey the fiddle delightfully play'd--
The Orang Outang touch'd the harp with great skill, }
The Ass beat the drum, with effect and good will, }
And the Squirrel kept ringing his merry bells still. }

[Illustration: _"The Monkey the fiddle delightfully play'd." p. 10._]

[Illustration: _"The Elephant stately majestic & tal