Canto + 

the XIII + 

The Mule no sooner saw himself alone + 

Than he prick’d up his Ears⁠—and said “well done; + 

At least unhappy Prince I may be free⁠— + 

No more a Princess shall side-saddle me. + 

O King of Otaheite⁠—though a Mule, + 

‘Aye, every inch a King’⁠—though ‘Fortune’s Fool,’ + 

Well done⁠—for by what Mr. Dwarfy said + 

I would not give a sixpence for her head.” + 

Even as he spake he trotted in high glee + 

To the knotty side of an old Pollard tree, + 

And rubb’d his sides against the mossed bark + 

Till his Girths burst and left him naked stark + 

Except his Bridle⁠—how get rid of that + 

Buckled and tied with many a twist and plait. + 

At last it struck him to pretend to sleep, + 

And then the thievish Monkeys down would creep + 

And filch the unpleasant trammels quite away. + 

No sooner thought of than adown he lay, + 

Shamm’d a good snore⁠—the Monkey-men descended + 

And whom they thought to injure they befriended. + 

They hung his Bridle on a topmost bough + 

And off he went run, trot, or anyhow⁠— + 