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Meantime her infant doth her charge evade,

And rambleth sagely on the sandy shore,

Till the sly sea-crab, low in ambush laid,

Seizeth his leg and biteth him full sore.

Ah me! what sounds the shuddering echoes bore,

When his small treble mixed with Ocean's roar.

Hard by, there stands an ancient hostelrie,

And at its side a garden, where the bear,

The stealthy catamount, and coon, agree

To work deceit on all who gather there;

And when Augusta—that unconscious fair—

With nuts and apples plyeth Bruin free,

Lo! the green parrot claweth her back hair,

And the grey monkey grabbeth fruits that she

On her gay bonnet wears, and laugheth loud in glee!