  Four gay gallants of London town Went out to walk on Horsley Down; And there they saw a beast, The like of which had ne'er been seen In Cheapside or in Strand, I ween, In West-side or in East. Its legs were four, its tail was one, So one gallant swore by the sun It therefore was a horse; "Nay!" cried the next, "this talk is idle. If 'twere a horse, 'twould have a bridle, A saddle, too, of course." "It has a horn, you will perceive, We'll therefore call it, by your leave, A unicorn of pride." The others vowed by stick and fiddle The unicorn wore his horn in the middle, And not upon the side. "I call't a lion!" said the third. "Nay!" cried the fourth, "that's too absurd! The creature has no mane. To one who has a judgment fair, It would appear to be a bear; And this I will maintain." The beast (I'll tell the secret now! 'Twas Farmer Giles's one-horned cow, Her other horn was broken) Advanced, meanwhile, toward the four, And as 'twas supper-time and more, Mooed loud, by way of token. With shriek and scream those gallants gay To London town fled back away, As fast as they might fare. And when at home they stopped to rest 'em, A whole menagerie had chased 'em, As every one could swear. |
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