The extraordinary simplicity of this giant of the forest inspired one {225} of our friends with the idea for the following couplet, which we gladly insert (as it ought not to be lost to posterity), regretting, at the same time, that the gifted poet insists on remaining anonymous:— [Illustration] AIR—“_Femmes, voulez-vous éprouver_.” “Un Éléphant se balançait Sur une toile d’Araignée; Voyant qu’il divertissait, Une Mouche en fut indignée: ‘Comment peux-tu te rejouer,’ Dit-elle, ‘en voyant ma souffrance Ah! viens plutôt me soucourir, Ma main sera ta recompense.’ ” {226} We secured a number of brave auxiliaries in the shrimps, who, headed by a valiant sea-crab, shouted, as they formed into marching order— “Forward let us march With our backs upon the foe.” [Illustration] [Illustration] All good citizens were ordered to leave wife and children, and prepare to be everywhere at a moment’s notice, ready to fight for their {227} country. Notwithstanding the happy stratagem which shut in the rebels, we were doomed to defeat. A company of the enemy’s flies, mechanics, were drafted to place the guns so as to command our position. The coolness of these creatures, foes though they were, won our admiration. They planted the weapons with an unconcern as complete as if preparing to storm the calix of a flower, while the result of their manœuvres soon told terribly on our left wing. Our swarms, impatient for the fray—displaying more valour than discretion—fell upon the foe in disorganised detachments. The right attacked the enemy’s left under the leadership of the Goliaths, but the light infantry under Prince Humble-Bee were as waves against a rock scattered in boiling foam. Our left was opposed by the mining, cutting, and carpentering Andrines, and the corporation of Rhinoceros-Beetles, who having only one horn, obeyed the mighty two-horned Stags. Flies, Moths, Grubs, and other insects attacked and routed our centre. Prince Humble-Bee calculated on the Rhinoceros-Beetles attacking his heavy troops, compelling them to traverse the field, separating the two armies; but the Beetle, who had been apprised of the plan of campaign by a deserter, commanded his troops to close their ranks and their wings, thus to await the enemy’s shock. [Illustration]