Here battle man and brute in narrow cages, Where one in mockery his long whip lashes, The other, growling as when thunder rages, Against the man’s throat murderously dashes,-- Where now the crafty, now the strong prevails, Now man, now beast, against the flooring quails. The animal rears,--the human on all fours! One ice-cold look of dominance--The beast submissive bows before that glance, And the proud heel upon his neck adores. Bad are the times! Ladies and gentlemen Who once before my cage in thronging crescents Crowded, now honor operas, and then Ibsen, with their so highly valued presence. My boarders here are so in want of fodder That they reciprocally devour each other. How well off at the theater is a player, Sure of the meat upon his ribs, no matter How terrible the hunger round his platter, And colleagues’ inner cupboards yawning bare!-- But if to heights of art we would aspire, We may not reckon merit by its hire. What see you, whether in light or sombre plays? =House-animals=, whose morals all must praise, Who vent pale spites in vegetarian ways, And revel in a singsong to-and-fro Just like those others--in the seats below. This hero has a head by one dram swirled; That, is in doubt whether his love be right; A third you hear despairing of the world,-- Full five acts long you hear him wail his plight, And no man ends him with a merciful sleight! But the =real= beast, the =beautiful=, =wild= beast, Your eyes on =that=, _I_, ladies, only, feast! You see the Tiger, that habitually Devours whatever falls before his bound; The Bear, who, gluttonous from the first sally, Sinks at his late night-meal dead to the ground; You see the Monkey, little and amusing, From sheer ennui his petty powers abusing,-- He has some talent, of all greatness scant, So, impudently, coquettes with his own want! Upon my soul, within my tent and trammel-- See, right behind the curtain, here--’s a Camel! And all my creatures fawn about my feet When my revolver cracks-- [_He shoots into the audience._] Behold! Brutes tremble all around me. I am cold: The =man= stays cold,--you, with respect, to greet. Walk in!--You hardly trust yourselves in here?-- Then very well, judge for yourselves! Each sphere Has sent its crawling creatures to your telling: Chameleons and serpents, crocodiles, Dragons, and salamanders chasm-dwelling,-- I know, of course, you’re full of quiet smiles And don’t believe a syllable I say.-- [_He lifts the entrance-flap and calls into the tent._] Hi, Charlie!--bring our =Serpent= just this way! [_A stage-hand with a big paunch carries out the actress of_ =LULU= _in her Pierrot costume, and sets her down before the animal-tamer_.]