Thehusband stood aghast!—­admired the place,
          Not built for man, e’en gods ’twould not disgrace. 
          The rooms were gilt; the decorations fine;
          The gardens and the pleasure-grounds divine;
          Such rich magnificence was never seen;
          Superb the whole, a charming blessed demesne. 
          The entrance ev’ry way was open found;
          But not a person could be viewed around,
          Except a negro, hideous to behold,
          Who much resembled AEsop, famed of old.

          Ourjudge the negro for a porter took,
          Who was the house to clean and overlook;
          And taking him for such, the black addressed,
          With full belief the title was the best,
          And that he greatly honoured him, ’twas plain
          (Of ev’ry colour men are proud and vain:)
          Said he, my friend, what god this palace owns? 
          Too much it seems for those of earthly thrones;
          No king, of consequence enough could be;
          The palace, cried the black, belongs to me.

          Thejudge was instantly upon his knees,
          The negro’s pardon asked, and sought to please;
          I trust, said he, my lord, you’ll overlook
          The fault I made:  my ignorance mistook. 
          The universe has not so nice a spot;
          The world so beautiful a palace got!

Dost wish me, said the black, the house to give,
For thee and thine therein at ease to live? 
On one condition thou shalt have the place
For thee I seriously intend the grace,
If thou ’lt on me a day or two attend,
As page of honour:—­dost thou comprehend? 
The custom know’st thou—­better I’ll expound;
A cup-bearer with Jupiter is found,
Thou’st heard no doubt.

Anselm

What, Ganymede?

Negro

    &
nbsp;                             The same;

And I’m that Jupiter of mighty fame;
The chief supreme who rules above the skies;
Be thou the lad with fascinating eyes,
Though not so handsome, nor in truth so young.

Anselm

You jest, my lord; to youth I don’t belong;
’Tis very clear;—­my judge’s dress—­my age!

Negro

I jest? thou dream’st.

Anselm

My lord?

Negro

You won’t engage? 
Just as you will:—­’tis all the same you’ll find.

Anselm

My lord!. . . .  The learned judge himself resigned,
The black’s mysterious wishes to obey;—­
Alas! curst presents, how they always weigh!

A page the magistrate was quickly seen,
In dress, in look, in age, in air, in mien;
His hat became a cap; his beard alone
Remained unchanged; the rest had wholly flown.