A tale, I know, has gone about

That Dunstan twinged him by the snout

With pincers hotly glowing;

Levying, by fieri facias tweak

A diabolic screech and squeak

No tender mercy showing

But antiquarians the most curious

Reject that vulgar tale as spurious;

His reverence, say they

Instead of giving nose a pull

Resolved on vengeance just and full

Upon some future day

Dunstan the saying called to mind

"The devil through his paw behind

Alone shall penal torture find

From iron, lead, or steel."

Achilles thus had been eternal

Thanks to his baptism infernal

But for his mortal heel

And so the saint, by wisdom guided

To fix old Clootie's hoof decided

With horse-shoe of real metal

And iron nails quite unmistakable;

For Dunstan, now become implacable

Resolved Nick's hash to settle

Satan, of this without forewarning

Worse luck for him! the following morning

With simper sauntered in;

Squinted at what the saint was doing

But never smoked the mischief brewing

Putting his foot in't; soon the shoeing

Did holy smith begin

Oh! 'twas worth coin to see him seize

That ugly leg, and 'twixt his knees

Firmly the pastern grasp

The shoe he tried on, burning hot

His tools all handy he had got

Hammer, and nails, and rasp

A startled stare the devil lent

Much wondering what St. Dunstan meant

This preluding to follow

But the first nail from hammer's stroke

Full soon Nick's silent wonder broke

For his shrill scream might then have woke

The sleepiest of Sleepy Hollow

And distant Echo heard the sound

Vexing the hills for leagues around

But answer would not render

She may not thus her lips profane:

So Shadow, fearful of a stain

Avoids the black offender

The saint no pity had on Nick

But drove long nails right through the quick;

Louder shrieked he, and faster

Dunstan cared not; his bitter grin

Without mistake, showed Father Sin

He had found a ruthless master

And having driven, clenched, and filed

The saint reviewed his work, and smiled

With cruel satisfaction;

And jeering said, "Pray, ere you go

Dance me the pas seul named 'Jim Crow,'

With your most graceful action."

To tell how Horny yelled and cried

And all the artful tricks he tried

To ease his tribulations

Would more than fill a bigger