THE DOVES. REASONING at every step he treads, While meaner things, whom instinct leads, One silent eve I wander'd late, Our mutual bond of faith and truth While innocence without disguise, Shall fill the circles of those eyes, Those ills that wait on all below When lightnings flash among the trees, I fear lest thee alone they seize, And know no other fear. "Tis then I feel myself a wife, And press thy wedded side, But oh! if, fickle and unchaste No need of lightning from on high, eye, This widow'd heart would break. Thus sang the sweet sequester'd bird, Soft as the passing wind, And I recorded what I heard, A lesson for mankind. THE FAITHFUL BIRD. THE greenhouse is my summer seat; My shrubs displaced from that retreat Enjoy'd the open air; Two goldfinches, whose sprightly song They sang as blithe as finches sing But Nature works in every breast And Dick felt some desires, The open'd windows seem'd to' invite And Dick, although his way was clear, So settling on his cage, by play, Nor would he quit that chosen stand ye, who never taste the joys Blush, when I tell you how a bird THE LILY AND THE ROSE. THE nymph must lose her female friend, But where will fierce contention end Within the garden's peaceful scene The Rose soon redden'd into rage, The Lily's height bespoke command, She seem'd design'd for Flora's hand, This civil bickering and debate The goddess chanced to hear, And flew to save, ere yet too late, The pride of the parterre; Yours is, she said, the nobler hue, And yours the statelier mien! And, till a third surpasses you, Let each be deem'd a queen. Thus, sooth'd and reconciled, each seeks The fairest British fair: The seat of empire is her cheeks, They reign united there. ON A GOLDFINCH, STARVED TO DEATH IN HIS CAGE. TIME was when I was free as air, But gaudy plumage, sprightly strain, For caught, and caged, and starved to death, Soon pass'd the wiry grate. Thanks, gentle swain, for all my woes, And cure of every ill! More cruelty could none express; |