2. The boy grows prouder as he looks; The girl is in a rage, nor brooks To meddle in a lady's room. With most affectionate concern SMART.. That education forms the mind. My tale shall prove this doctrine true. 2. Since to the muse all brutes belong, The lamb shall usher in my song ; And innocence had crown'd the whole. 3. It chanc'd upon a luckless day, The little wanton, full of play, And soon the pretty trifler fell. Its mire upon her spotless vest. 5. The shepherd, wounded with her cries, Straight to the bleeding sufferer flies, Her fleece in virgin whiteness shin'd. 6. Cleans'd from polution's every stain, She join'd her fellows on the plain; And view'd his flock with sweet content. 7. To market next he shap'd his way, And brought provisions for the day: And testify their mirth aloud. And all admir'd his little eyes, SECTION. V. The Bee and the Ant ; or, the advantages of application and diligence in early years. 1. On a bright dewy summer's morn A Bee rang'd o'er the verdant lawn; And make the most of ev'ry flow'r. And loades with yellow wax her thighs; Or ev'ry tempting rose pursues, The various duties of the day. i On poverty the loss of friends. With anxious steps to tread the ground; And drag the heavy load with pain. 5. The Active Bee with pleasure sa w The Ant fulfill her parent's law Nor know the wants of pride and state. 6. Why is our food so very sweet ? Because we earn before we eat. Is not all nature busy too? SECTION VI. The Doves, 1. REAS’ning at ev'ry step he treads, Man vet. mistakes his way, . While meaner things, who instinct leads, Are rarely known to stray. And heard the voice of love; And sooth'd the list’ning dove: No time shall disengage; Shall cheer our latest age. And constancy sincere, : And mine can read them there; 5. 'Those ills that wait on all below Shail ne'er be felt by me; As being shar'd with thee. 6. When lightnings flash among the trees, Or kites are hov'ring near, And know no other fear. And press thy wedded side, Death never shall divide. (Forgive a transient thought,) And scorn thy present lot. Or kites with cruel beak; Denied th' endearments of thine eye, This widow'd heart would break." Soft as the passing wind; · A lesson for mankind.. COOPER SECTION VII. The Goldfinches: - 1. All in a garden, on a currant bush Two Goldfinches had built their airy seat; In the next orchard lived a friendly thrush, Nor distant far, a woodlark's soft retreat. 2. Here, bless'd with ease, and in each other bless'd With early songs they wak'd the neighb'ring groves; - Till time'matur'd their joy, and crown'd their nest With infant pledges of their faithful loves. 3. And now, what transport glow'd in either's eye! What equal fondness dealt th' allotted food! What joy each other's likeness to decry' And future sonnets in the chirping brood! 4. But ah ! what earthly happiness can last? How does the fairest purpose often fail! Their flattering hopes, and leave them both to wail. 5. The most ungentle of his tribe was he; No gen'rous precept ever touch'd his heart: With concord false, and hideous prosody, He scrawlid his task, and blunder'd o'er his part. 6. On mischief bent, he mark'd with rav'nous eyes, Where, wrapt in down, the callow songsters lay; Then rushing, rudely siez'd the glitt'ring prize, And bore it in his impious hands away! 7. But how shall I describe, in numbers rude, The pangs for poor Chrysomitris decreed, When, from her secret stand, aghast, she view'd The cruel spoiler perpetrate the deed? |