Explore "Tales of a Wayside Inn" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
"Signor Luigi," said the Jew, / When the Sicilian's tale was told, / "The were-wolf is a legend old, / But the were-ass is something new, / And yet for one I think it true. / The days of wonder have not ceased / If there are beasts in forms of men, / As sure it happens now and then, / Why may not man become a beast, / In way of punishment at least?
"But this I will not now discuss, / I leave the theme, that we may thus / Remain within the realm of song. / The story that I told before, / Though not acceptable to all, / At least you did not find too long. / I beg you, let me try again, / With something in a different vein, / Before you bid the curtain fall. / Meanwhile keep watch upon the door, / Nor let the Landlord leave his chair, / Lest he should vanish into air, / And thus elude our search once more."