A TERM for autumn leaves when all their lovely tints are fled; A mountain in Arabia, lifting high its rocky head; What witches and astrologers pretend they truly are; A state from which I greatly hope your conscience still is far: Those four are all alike, you'll see, in mere pronunciation, But diverse in orthography and in signification. Transpose the second, you will gain the title of a king, And what you would be sure to do if he should enter in; Transpose the fourth, you'll see at once how ancient warriors treated The cities of the enemy, with passion overheated; Transpose the third, and lo! the first will straightway be revealed. Now, reader, I shall like to see this mystery unsealed. |