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THE LAUGH ON NERO.
Among the Coliseum throng King Nero sat him down;
A toga wrapped his shoulder blade, upon his face a frown.
"Ho! turn the tigers loose," he cried, "and bring the lions out!"
At which the massive mob stood up and cheered with mighty shout.
A toga wrapped his shoulder blade, upon his face a frown.
"Ho! turn the tigers loose," he cried, "and bring the lions out!"
At which the massive mob stood up and cheered with mighty shout.
The fiercest lions Numidia had ever grown were there,
The most blood-thirsty Tigerines from Bengal's far-famed lair.
For weeks no food of any sort had been left in their cage
To work each beast into a pitch of gnawing, clawing rage.
The most blood-thirsty Tigerines from Bengal's far-famed lair.
For weeks no food of any sort had been left in their cage
To work each beast into a pitch of gnawing, clawing rage.
Out in the center of the throng the victim took his stand,
A careless smile upon his lips, no weapon in his hand;
He looked serenely on the mob which clamored for his gore,
And faced the tiges with smothered yawns, unmindful of their roar.
A careless smile upon his lips, no weapon in his hand;
He looked serenely on the mob which clamored for his gore,
And faced the tiges with smothered yawns, unmindful of their roar.
The signal given, with a snarl each lion and tiger rushed
Upon their prey, while all around the multitude sat hushed,
Upon their prey, while all around the multitude sat hushed,
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