THE POET'S NEW-YEAR'S GIFT. TO MRS. (AFTERWARDS LADY) THROCKMORTON. MARIA! I have every good For thee wish'd many a time, To wish thee fairer is no need, What favour then not yet possess'd In wedded love already bless'd, None here is happy but in part; There dwells some wish in every heart, That wish, on some fair future day PAIRING TIME ANTICIPATED. A FABLE. I SHALL not ask Jean Jaques 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 Began to agitate the matter. At length a Bullfinch, who could boast My friends! be cautious how ye treat I fear we shall have winter yet. 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? 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 heaven and earth shall mingle; Till death exterminate us all. My dear Dick Redcap, what say you ? Dick heard, and tweedling, ogling, bridling, Of an immediate conjugation. All pair'd, and each pair built a nest. But though the birds were thus in haste, The leaves came on not quite so fast, And Destiny, that sometimes bears An aspect stern on man's affairs, Not altogether smiled on theirs. The wind, of late breathed gently forth, Now shifted east, and east by north; Bare trees and shrubs but ill, you know, Could shelter them from rain or snow: Stepping into their nests, they paddled, Themselves were chill'd, their eggs were addled; Soon every father bird and mother Grew quarrelsome, and peck'd each other, Parted without the least regret, MORAL. Misses! the tale that I relate This lesson seems to carry- 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 every grace That spaniel found for me,) 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 Their beauties I intent survey'd, And one I wished my own. 1 Sir Robert Gunning's daughters. With cane extended far I sought But still the prize, though nearly caught, Beau mark'd my unsuccessful pains But with a cherup clear and strong, I thence withdrew, and follow'd long My ramble ended, I return'd; The floating wreath again discern'd, I saw him with that lily cropp'd Impatient swim to meet My quick approach, and soon he dropp'd The treasure at my feet. Charm'd with the sight, The world, I cried, My dog shall mortify the pride But chief myself I will enjoin, To show a love as prompt as thine To Him who gives me all. |