He felt the snare around him draw! By war of robbers profiting, The dove for safety plied the wing, We must confess,) And by a most unlucky fling, And lame in leg and wing, Straight homeward urged his crippled flight; Fatigued, but glad, arrived at night, The doves rejoined: I leave you all to say, A world of beauty ever new; The whole of what is good ana true. Myself have loved; nor would I then, For all the wealth of crowned men, Or arch celestial, paved with gold, The presence of those woods have sold, And fields and banks and hillock which Were by the joyful steps made rich, And smiled beneath the charming eyes Of her who made my heart a prize,To whom I pledged it, nothing loath, And sealed the pledge with virgin oath. Ah, when will time such moments bring again? To me are sweet and charming objects vain My soul forsaking to its restless mood? Oh, did my withered heart but dare To kindle for the bright and good, Should not I find the charms still there? Is love, to me, with things that were? THE RAVEN AND THE FOX. PERCHED on a lofty oak, Sir Raven held a lunch of cheese; "Ha! how do you do, Sir Raven? Must show how musical his croak. The rogue should never cheat him more. THE FROG THAT WISHED TO BE AS BIG AS THE OX. And THE tenant of a bog, An envious little frog Not bigger than an egg, She stretches, swells, and strains, The cit to build his dome; And, really, there is no telling How much great men set little ones a swelling. THE CITY RAT AND THE COUNTRY RAT. A CITY rat, one night, A country rat invite To end a turtle soup. Upon a Turkey carpet They found the table spread, And sure I need not harp it How well the fellows fed. The entertainment was A truly noble one; Disturbed it when begun. It was a slight rat-tat That put their joys to rout: His guest, too, scampered out. THE FOX AND STORK. OLD Mister Fox was at expense, one day, The fare was light, was nothing, sooth to say, That sly old gentleman, the dinner-giver, He said he'd go, for he must own he Where, praising her politeness, Its punctuality and plenty, Its viands, cut in mouthfuls dainty, Its fragrant smell, were powerful to excite, Had there been need, his foxish appetite. But now the dame, to torture him, Such wit was in her, Served up her dinner In vases made so tall and slim, They let their owner's beak pass in and out, With drooping head and tail, Ye knaves, for you is this recital, THE HARE AND THE TORTOISE. To win a race, the swiftness of a dart Availeth not without a timely start. The hare and tortoise are my witnesses. Said tortoise to the swiftest thing that is, "I'll bet that you'll not reach so soon as I The tree on yonder hill we spy." "So soon! Why, madam, are you frantic?" Replied the creature, with an antic; "Pray take, your senses to restore, "Say," said the tortoise, "what you will; 'Twas done; the stakes were paid, Of what, is not a question for this place, The sterile heath to measure. She starts; she moils on, modestly and lowly, Believes it for his honor To take late start and gain upon her. |