Thee haughty tyrants ne'er shall tame ; To thee belongs the rural reign; Thy cities shall with commerce shine; All thine shall be the subject main, And every shore it circles thine! The Muses still, with Freedom found, Rule Britannia! Britannia rules the waves ! Thomson. THE DOG AND THE WATER LILY. The noon was shady, and soft airs My spaniel, prettiest of his race, (Two nymphs, adorned with every grace, That spaniel found for me) Now wantoned lost in flags and reeds, Now starting into sight, Pursued the swallow o'er the meads It was the time when Ouse displayed Their beauties I intent surveyed, With cane extended, far I sought But still the prize, though nearly caught, Beau marked my unsuccessful pains, And puzzling set his puppy brains But with a chirrup clear and strong, I thence withdrew, and followed long My ramble finished, I returned, The floating wreath again discerned, I saw him with that lily cropped, My quick approach, and soon he dropped Charmed with the sight, the world, I cried, My dog shall mortify the pride But chief myself I will enjoin, Awake at duty's call, To show a love as prompt as thine, To Him who gives me all. Cowper. The Poet, the Oyster, and the Sensitive Plant. 5 THE POET, THE OYSTER, AND THE An oyster, cast upon the shore, 66 Ah, hapless wretch! condemned to dwell For ever in my native shell; Ordained to move when others please, Not for my own content or ease; I envy that unfeeling shrub, The plant he meant grew not far off, And with asperity replied. (When cry the botanists, and stare, Did plants called sensitive grow there? No matter when- -a poet's muse is, To make them grow just where she chooses.) "You shapeless nothing in a dish, You that are but almost a fish, And when I bend, retire, and shrink, Says 'Well, 'tis more than one would think!' Thus life is spent (oh fie upon't!) In being touched, and crying-Don't!" A poet, in his evening walk, O'erheard and checked this idle talk. "And your fine sense," he said, “and yours, Whatever evil it endures, Deserves not, if so soon offended, Much to be pitied or commended. |