The document tells a story in rhyming verse about a dragon that swallowed increasingly large objects - first a sword, then a knight, a horse, and finally a bear. Each new object was swallowed to chase the one before it. In the end, the dragon's stomach rumbled and it expelled the objects in reverse order - first the bear, then the horse, knight, and finally the sword, which was the only thing the rhyme said was worthy of applause to swallow.

1. There once wasadragonthat swallowedasword
Idon’t knowwhyheswallowedasword
Notsomethingtoapplaud
ThereoncewasadragonthatswallowedaKnight
Notverybrighttoswallowaknight,
He swallowedtheknighttochasethesword,
Notsomethingtoapplaudswallowingasword
There once wasdragonaswallowedahorse
What apieceofgorsetoswallowahorse
He swallowedthehorsetochase the knight
He swallowedtheknighttochasethesword
Notsomethingtoapplaudswallowingasword.
There once wasadragonthat swallowedabear
He hasnofeartoswallowabear
He swallowedthebeartochasethehorse,
He swallowedthehorsetochase theknight
He swallowedtheknighttochasethesword
notsomethingtoapplaudswallowingasword.
Thedragon’stummystartedtorumbleitletoutagreat grumble,
first out camethe swordnowthiswassomethingtoapplaud.
Thencametheknight,itgavethedragonafright.

2. Thenwithathunderousburp,outcamehorsewithanoldpiece ofgorse.
Andthenatlastcamethebearwith
abigrottingchair.