From poifon vehicled in praife,
For fatire's fhots but flightly graze;
We claim your zeal, and find within,
Philofophy and you are kin..
What Virtue is we judge by you;
For actions right are beauteous too;
By tracing the fole female mind,
We best what is true Nature find:
Your vapours bred from fumes declare,
How fteams create tempestuous air,
'Till gufhing tears and hafty rain
Make heaven and you ferene again:
Our travels through the starry skies
Were first suggested by your eyes;
We by the interpofing fan,
Learn how eclipfes first began;
The vast ellipfe from Scarbro's home,
Describes how blazing comets roam;
The glowing colours of the cheek
Their origin from Phœbus speak;
Our watch how Luna strays above
Feels like the care of jealous love;
And all things we in fcience know
From your known love for riddles flow.
Father! forgive, thus far I ftray,
Drawn by attraction from my way.
Mark next with awe, the foundress well
Who on these banks delights to dwell;
You on the terrace fee her plain,
Move like Diana with her train.
If you then fairly speak your mind,
In wedlock fince with Ifis join'd,
You'll own, you never yet did fee,
At least in such a high degree,
Greatness delighted to undress;
Science a scepter'd hand carefs;
A queen the friends of freedom prize;
A woman wife men canonize.
THE BEE, THE ANT, AND THE SPARROW:
ADDRESSED TO PHEBE AND KITTY COTTON AT BOARDING SCHOOL.
BY DR, COTTON.
Y dears, 'tis faid in days of old,
That beafts could talk, and birds could scold.
But now it seems the human race
Alone engross the speaker's place,
Yet lately, if report be true,
(And much the tale relates to you)
There met a Sparrow, Ant, and Bee,
Which reafon'd and convers'd as we.
Who reads my page will doubtless grant
That Phe's the wife industrious Ant.
And all with half an eye may fee
That Kitty is the bufy Bee.
Here then are two-but where's the third?
Go fearch your school, you'll find the Bird.
Your school! I ask your pardon fair,
I'm fure you'll find no Sparrow there.
Now to my tale-One Summer's morn
A Bee rang'd o'er the verdant lawn;
Studious to husband every hour,
And make the most of every flow'r.
Nimble from stalk to ftalk fhe flies,
And loads with yellow wax her thighs :
With which the artist builds her comb,
And keeps all tight and warm at home:
Or from the cowflip's golden bells
Sucks honey to enrich her cells:
Or every tempting rofe pursues,
Or fips the lily's fragrant dews;
Yet never robs the fhining bloom,
Or of its beauty or perfume.
Thus fhe discharg'd in every way
The various duties of the day.
It chanc'd a frugal Ant was near,
Whole brow was wrinkled o'er by care:
A great oeconomist was the,
Nor less laborious than the Bee;
By penfive parents often taught
What ills arise from want of thought;
That poverty on floth depends,
On poverty the lofs of friends.
Hence every day the Ant is found
With anxious fieps to tread the ground;
With curious fearch to trace the grain,
And drag the heavy load with pain.
The active Bee with pleasure faw
The Ant fulfil her parents' law.
Ah! fifter-labourer, fays fhe,
How very fortunate are we !
Who taught in infancy to know
The comforts, which from labour flow,
Are independent of the great,
Nor know. the wants of pride and state.
Why is our food fo very sweet?
Because we earn, before we eat.
Why are our wants fo very few?
Because we nature's calls purfue.
Whence our complacency of mind?
Because we act our parts affign'd.
Have we inceffant tasks to do?
Is not all nature busy too!
Doth not the fun with conftant pace
Perfift to run his annual race?
Do not the stars, which fhine fo bright,
Renew their courfes every night?
Doth not the ox obedient bow
His patient neck, and draw the plough?
Or when did e'er the generous steed
Withhold his labour or his fpeed?
If you all Nature's system scan,
The only idle thing is man!
A wanton Sparrow long'd to hear
Their fage discourse, and ftrait drew near-
The bird was talkative and loud,
And very pert and very proud;
As worthless and as vain a thing,
Perhaps as ever wore a wing,
She found, as on a fpray fhe fat,
The little friends were deep in chat;
That virtue was their favourite theme,
And toil and probity their scheme:
Such talk was hateful to her breast,
She thought them arrant prudes at best.
When to display her naughty mind,
Hunger and cruelty combin'd;
She view'd the Ant with favage eyes,
And hopt and hopt to snatch her prize.
The Bee, who watch'd her opening bill,
And guess'd her fell defign to kill;
Afk'd her from what her anger rofe,
And why the treated Ants as foes?
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