The Book Of Paradise – The Favoured Beast

Or beasts there have been chosen four

To come to Paradise,
And there with saints for evermore

They dwell in happy wise.

Amongst them all the Ass stands first;

He comes with joyous stride,
For to the Prophet-City erst

Did Jesus on him ride.

Half timid next a Wolf doth creep,

To whom Mahomet spake
‘Spoil not the poor man of his sheep,

The rich man’s thou mayst take.’

And then the brave and faithful Hound,

Who by his master kept,
And slept with him the slumbers sound

The seven sleepers slept.

Abuherrira’s Cat, too, here,

Purrs round his master blest,
For holy must the beast appear

The Prophet hath caress’d.