From the chestnut and orange pours all the day long; And not where the martin has built in the eaves,
And the redbreast once covered the children with
Shall ye find the proud Eagle! Oh no, come away;
I will show you his dwelling, and point out his prey!
Away! let us go where the mountains are high,
With tall splintered peaks towering into the sky;
Where old ruined castles are dreary and lone,
And seem as if built for a world that is
There, up on the topmost tower, black as the night,
Sits the old monarch Eagle in full blaze of light:
He is king of these mountains: save him and his mate,
No eagle dwells here; he is lonely and great!
Look, look how he sits! with his keen glancing eye,
And his proud head thrown back, looking into the sky;
And hark to the rush of his outspreading wings,
Like the coming of tempest, as upward he springs ;
And now how the echoing mountains are stirred,
For that was the cry of the Eagle you heard!
And see how he soars! like a speck in the height
Of the blue vaulted sky, and now lost in the light!
Now downward he wheels as a shaft from a bow
By a strong archer sent, to the valleys below!
And that is the bleat of a lamb of the flock;-
One moment, and he reascends to the rock;-
Yes, see how the conqueror is winging his way,
And his terrible talons are holding their prey!
Great bird of the wilderness! lonely and proud,
With a spirit unbroken, a neck never bowed;
With an eye of defiance, august and severe,
Who scorn'st an inferior and hatest a peer,
What is it that giveth thee beauty and worth?
Thou wast made for the desolate places of earth;
To mate with the tempest; to match with the sea;
And God showed His power in the lion and thee!
The way into my parlour is up a winding stair,
And I have many curious things to show when you are there." "Oh no, no," said the little Fly; "to ask me is in vain,
For who goes up your winding stair can ne'er come down again."
"I'm sure you must be weary, dear, with soaring up so high; Will you rest upon my little bed?" said the Spider to the Fly. "There are pretty curtains drawn around, the sheets are fine and
And if you like to rest awhile, I'll snugly tuck you in!"
“Oh no, no,” said the little Fly; "for I've often heard it said, They never, never wake again, who sleep upon your bed!”
Said the cunning Spider to the Fly, "Dear friend, what can I do
To prove the warm affection I've always felt for you?
I have within my pantry good store of all that's nice;
I'm sure you're very welcome-will you please to take a slice?"
"Oh no, no," said the little Fly, "kind sir, that cannot be,
I've heard what's in your pantry, and I do not wish to see!"
"Sweet creature!" said the Spider, "you're witty and your wise, How handsome are your gauzy wings, how brilliant are your eyes! I have a little looking-glass upon my parlour-shelf,
If you'll step in one moment, dear, you shall behold yourself."
"I thank you, gentle sir," she said, "for what you're pleased to say,
And bidding you good-morning now, I'll call another day."
The Spider turned him round about, and went into his den,
For well he knew the silly Fly would soon come back again :
So he wove a subtle web, in a little corner sly,
And set his table ready, to dine upon the Fly.
Then he came out to his door again, and merrily did sing,—
"Come hither, hither, pretty Fly with the pearl and silver wing;
Your robes are green and purple, there's a crest upon your head;
Your eyes are like the diamond bright, but mine are dull as lead!"
Alas! alas! how very soon this silly little Fly,
Hearing his wily, flattering words, came slowly flitting by;
With buzzing wings she hung aloft, then near and nearer drew,
Thinking only of her brilliant eyes, and green and purple hue-
Thinking only of her crested head-poor foolish thing! At last,
Up jumped the cunning Spider, and fiercely held her fast.
He dragged her up his winding stair, into his dismal den,
Within his little parlour-but she ne'er came out again!
And now, dear little children, who may this story read,
To idle, silly flattering words, I pray you, ne'er give heed:
Unto an evil counsellor close heart and ear and eye,
And take a lesson from this tale of the Spider and the Fly.
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