Page 49 - Poetry-Animals

He called in angry tone,
And bade a jinn to hie
And summon to his throne
That boastful butterfly.

The butterfly flew down
Upon reluctant wing.
Cried Solomon, with a frown,
“How dared you say this thing?

“How dared you, fly, invent
Such blasphemy as this is?”
“Oh, king, I only meant
To terrify the missis.”

The insect was so scared
The king could scarce restrain
A smile. “Begone! you’re spared;
But don’t do it again!”

So spake King Solomon.
The butterflew away.
His wife to meet him ran:
“Oh, dear, what did he say?”

The butterfly had here
A chance to shine, and knew it.
Said he: “The king, my dear,
Implored me not to do it!”

—Oliver Herford (Century, 1898)

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