64482: Manticor In Arabia

<p dir="ltr"> (The manticors of the montaines<br> Mighte feed them on thy braines.<br>---Skelton.)<br> Thick and scented daisies spread<br> Where with surface dull like lead<br> Arabian pools of slime invite<br> Manticors down from neighbouring height<br> To dip heads, to cool fiery blood<br> In oozy depths of sucking mud.<br> Sing then of ringstraked manticor,<br> Man-visaged tiger who of yore<br> Held whole Arabian waste in fee<br> With raging pride from sea to sea,<br> That every lesser tribe would fly<br> Those armd feet, that hooded eye;<br> Till preying on himself at last<br> Manticor dwindled, sank, was passed<br> By gryphon flocks he did disdain.<br> Ay, wyverns and rude dragons reign<br> In ancient keep of manticor<br> Agreed old foe can rise no more.<br> Only here from lakes of slime<br> Drinks manticor and bides due time:<br> Six times Fowl Phoenix in yon tree<br> Must mount his pyre and burn and be<br> Renewed again, till in such hour<br> As seventh Phoenix flames to power<br> And lifts young feathers, overnice<br> From scented pool of steamy spice<br> Shall manticor his sway restore<br> And rule Arabian plains once more.</p>