Manticor In Arabia.

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