Illustrious drop! and happy then Phoebus, if such be thy design, Give wit, that what is left may shine PAIRING TIME ANTICIPATED. A FABLE. I SHALL not ask Jean Jacques Rousseau," 'Tis clear, that they were always able Must have a most uncommon skull. In many an orchard, copse, and grove, And with much twitter and much chatter, At length a Bulfinch, who could boast 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? Y VOL. XXXVI. 254 PAIRING TIME ANTICIPATED. And, silence publicly enjoin'd, My friends! be cautious how ye treat 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 death exterminates us all. I marry without more ado, My dear Dick Redcap, what say you? Dick heard, and tweedling, ogling, bridling, Turning short round, strutting and sideling, Attested, glad, his approbation Of an immediate conjugation. Influenc'd mightily the rest, All pair'd, and each pair built a nest. But though the birds were thus in haste, } } Stepping into their nests, they paddled, Themselves were chill'd, their eggs were addled; Grew quarrelsome, and peck'd each other, Except that they had ever met, MORAL. Misses! the tale that I relate THE DOG AND THE WATER-LILY. NO FABLE. THE noon was shady, and soft airs My spaniel, prettiest of his race, (Two nymphs* adorn'd with ev'ry grace Now wanton'd lost in flags and reeds, Now starting into sight Pursued the swallow o'er the meads It was the time when Ouse display'd, And one I wish'd my own. With cane extended far I sought But still the prize, though nearly caught, Sir Robert Gunning's daughters. |