Upborne into the viewless air It floats a vapour now, Impell'd through regions dense and rare, By all the winds that blow. Ordain'd perhaps ere summer flies, To form an Iris in the skies, Though black and foul before. Illustrious drop! and happy then Phoebus, if such be thy design, To place it in thy bow, Give wit, that what is left With equal grace below. may shine PAIRING TIME ANTICIPATED. A FABLE. I SHALL not ask Jean Jaques Rousseau*, If birds confabulate or no; 'Tis clear, that they were always able And e'en the child who knows no better, A story of a cock and bull, Must have a most uncommon scull. It chanc'd then on a winter's day, But warm, and bright, and calm as May, To forestal sweet St. Valentine, In many an orchard, copse, and grove, *It was one of the whimsical speculations of this philosopher, that all fables, which ascribe reason and speech to animals, should be withheld from children, as being only vehicles of deception. But what child was ever deceived by them, or can be, against the evidence of his senses? And with much twitter and much chatter, At length a Bulfinch, who could boast My friends! be cautious how ye treat I fear we shall have winter yet. A Finch, whose tongue knew no control, A last year's bird, who ne'er had tried By his good will would keep us single Till yonder Heav'n and Earth shall mingle, Or (which is likelier to befall) Till death exterminate us all. I marry without more ado, My dear Dick Redcap, what say you? } 298 PAIRING TIME ANTICIPATED. Dick heard, and tweedling, ogling, bridling, Turning short round, strutting and sideling, Attested, glad, his approbation Of an immediate conjugation. All pair'd, and each pair built a nest. But though the birds were thus in haste, Stepping into their nests, they paddled, Soon ev'ry father bird and mother Grew quarrelsome, and peck'd each other, Parted without the least regret, Except that they had ever met, And learn'd in future to be wiser, MORAL. Misses! the tale that I relate This lesson seems to carry Choose not alone a proper mate, THE DOG AND THE WATER-LILY. ΝΟ FABLE. THE noon was shady, and soft airs Swept Ouse's silent tide, I wander'd on his side. My spaniel, prettiest of his race, And high in pedigree, (Two nymphs* adorn'd with ev'ry grace That spaniel found for me) * Sir Robert Gunning's daughters. |