The Cockatrice

If you will listen to advice
You will avoid the Cockatrice--
A caution I need hardly say
Wholly superfluous to-day.
Yet had you lived when they were rife
Such warning might have saved your life.
To meet the Cockatrice's eye
Means certain death--and that is why
When I its features here portray
I make it look the other way.
O Cockatrice! were you so mean
What must the Henatrice have been!

Oliver Herford

Oliver Herford was born in England on December 2, 1860. He was a British-born American writer, artist, and illustrator, often referred to as 'The American Oscar Wilde' for his sharp wit and humorous works. Herford authored and illustrated many books for children and adults, contributing to magazines such as "The Criterion", "Life", and "Punch". He died on July 5, 1935, in France.

Oliver Herford

The Sphinx

Oliver Herford, Simple Poetry

The Floor

Oliver Herford, Simple Poetry

Israel Zangwill

Oliver Herford, Simple Poetry

The Dog.

Oliver Herford, Simple Poetry

English

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The Cock-Fighters Garland.[1]

Musehide his name of whom I sing,
Lest his surviving house thou bring
For his sake into scorn,
Nor speak the school from which he drew
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Nor place where he was born.


That such a man once was, may seem
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This man (for since the howling wild
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In social talk and ready jest,
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The Precipitate Cock And The Unappreciated Pearl

A rooster once pursued a worm
That lingered not to brave him,
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They hastened up by legions,
With quaint, expressive gurgles in
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Just then a kind of glimmering
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It was a large and costly pearl,
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The cock assumed an air forlorn,
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A Fable.

A raven, while with glossy breast
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If quite exempted from the same),
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The legislature calld it May.
But suddenly a wind, as high
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And filld her with a thousand fears,
Lest the rude blast should snap the bough,
And spread her golden hopes below.
But just at eve the blowing weather
And all her fears were hushd together:
And now, quoth poor unthinking Ralph.
Tis over, and the brood is safe;
(For ravens, though, as birds of omen,
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By voyages in air,
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Much knowledge had a swallow gain'd,
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Though such a bird as I
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You birds a caution need.
See you that waving hand?
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'Twill grow to nets and snares,
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Great multitudes I fear,
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The Water-Cure. A Tale: In The Manner Of Prior.

"--portentaque Thessala rides?"
--Hor.
"--Thessalian portents do you flout?"
* *


CARDENIO'S fortunes ne'er miscarried
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What then? the Nymph no doubt was young?
She was: but yet--she had a tongue!
Most women have, you seem to say.
I grant it--in a different way.

'Twas not that organ half-divine,
With which, Dear Friend, your spouse or mine,
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The Fox & The Crow

Said sly Fox to the Crow with the cheese,
"Let me hear your sweet voice, now do please!"
And this Crow, being weak,
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"Music charms," said the Fox, "and here's cheese!"

Beware Of Flatterers

Walter Crane