The subdued rustle of unseen hundreds grew more intense. Tarvin leaned forward with his chin in his hand, as the Prince slid down from his father's lap, put his hands behind him, and began, without pauses or expression: Tiger, tiger, burning bright In the forests of the night, What immortal hand or eye Framed thy fearful symmetry? When thy heart began to bat, What dread hand made thy dread feet? "There is more that I have forgotten," he went on, "but the last line is: " Did he who made the lamb make thee? I learned it all very quickly," and he began to applaud himself with both hands, while Tarvin followed suit.
A jelenet láthatatlan tanúinak suttogó moraja egyre erősbödött. Tarwin előrehajolt lován, tenyerére támasztva állát, mialatt a herceg leszállt apja öléből, háta mögött összekulcsolta kezét és teljesen hangsúlytalanul elhadarta kis versikéjét, azután pedig, mintegy saját sikerének tapsolva, összeütötte két tenyerét.