"It ca'n't have Introductory Verses at the end, can it?" said Sylvie.
"Wait till you hear it," said the Professor: "then you'll see. I'm not sure it hasn't some in the middle, as well." Here he rose to his feet, and there was an instant silence through the Banqueting-Hall: they evidently expected a speech.
"Ladies, and gentlemen," the Professor began, "the Other Professor is so kind as to recite a Poem. The title of it is 'The Pig-Tale.' He never recited it before!" (General cheering among the guests.) "He will never recite it again!" (Frantic excitement, and wild cheering all down the hall, the Professor himself mounting the table in hot haste, to lead the cheering, and waving his spectacles in one hand and a spoon in the other.)
Then the Other Professor got up, and began: —
Little Birds are dining
Warily and well,
Hid in mossy cell:
Hid, I say, by waiters
Gorgeous in their gaiters—
I've a Tale to tell.
