An hour they sate in council, 35 At length the Mayor broke silence: ‘For a guilder I’d my ermine gown sell; I wish I were a mile hence! It’s easy to bid one rack one’s brain-- I’m sure my poor head aches again 40 I’ve scratched it so, and all in vain, Oh for a trap, a trap, a trap!’ Just as he said this, what should hap At the chamber door but a gentle tap? ‘Bless us,’ cried the Mayor, ‘what’s that?’ 45 (With the Corporation as he sat, Looking little though wondrous fat; Nor brighter was his eye, nor moister, Than a too-long-opened oyster, Save when at noon his paunch grew mutinous 50 For a plate of turtle green and glutinous), ‘Only a scraping of shoes on the mat? Anything like the sound of a rat Makes my heart go pit-a-pat!’ ‘Come in!’--the Mayor cried, looking bigger: 55 And in did come the strangest figure. His queer long coat from heel to head Was half of yellow and half of red; And he himself was tall and thin, With sharp blue eyes, each like a pin, 60 And light loose hair, yet swarthy skin, No tuft on cheek, nor beard on chin, But lips where smiles went out and in-- There was no guessing his kith and kin! And nobody could enough admire 65 The tall man and his quaint attire. Quoth one: ‘It’s as my great grandsire, Starting up at the Trump of Doom’s tone, Had walked this way from his painted tombstone.’