Book XII: The Elephant and the Ape of Jupiter

'Twixt elephant and beast of horned noseAbout precedence a dispute arose,Which they determined to decide by blows.The day was fix'd, when came a messengerTo say the ape of JupiterWas swiftly earthward seen to bearHis bright caduceus through the air.This monkey, named in history Gill,The elephant at once believedA high commission had receivedTo witness, by his sovereign's will,The aforesaid battle fought.Uplifted by the glorious thought,The beast was prompt on Monsieur Gill to wait,But found him slow, in usual forms of state,His high credentials to present.The ape, however, ere he went,Bestow'd a passing salutation.His excellency would have heardThe subject matter of legation:But not a word!His fight, so far from stirring heaven,--The news was not received there, even!What difference sees the impartial skyBetween an elephant and fly?Our monarch, doting on his object,Was forced himself to break the subject.'My cousin Jupiter,' said he,'Will shortly, from his throne supreme,A most important combat see,For all his court a thrilling theme.''What combat?' said the ape, with serious face.'Is't possible you should not know the case?--'The elephant exclaim'd--'not know, dear sir,That Lord Rhinoceros disputesWith me precedence of the brutes?That Elephantis is at warWith savage hosts of Rhinocer?You know these realms, not void of fame?''I joy to learn them now by name,'Return'd Sir Gill, 'for, first or last,No lisp of them has ever pass'dThroughout our dome so blue and vast.'Abash'd, the elephant replied,'What came you, then, to do?--''Between two emmets to divideA spire of grass in two.We take of all a care;And, as to your affair,Before the gods, who view with equal eyesThe small and great, it hath not chanced to rise.'