Mirth and Metre consisting of Poems, Serious, Humorous, and Satirical; Songs, Sonnets, Ballads & Bagatelles. Written by C. Dibdin, Jun |
 |
|
|
|
|
THE LINNET. |
 | Mirth and Metre |  |
THE LINNET.
An idle boy caught a linnet one day,
And fasten'd its leg to a string,
Then with it unthinkingly 'gan to play,
Supposing it would'nt take wing;
And fasten'd its leg to a string,
Then with it unthinkingly 'gan to play,
Supposing it would'nt take wing;
196
Hard by, on a hawthorn bush, whistled a thrush,
And this burthen his song seem'd to bear,
“A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush,”
So, foolish boy, beware!
And this burthen his song seem'd to bear,
“A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush,”
So, foolish boy, beware!
The linnet it flutter'd, and seem'd to beg,
The boy enjoy'd its pain;
Till, by chance, the string slipping that fasten'd its leg,
The linnet got free again.
While still on the hawthorn bush, &c.
The boy enjoy'd its pain;
Till, by chance, the string slipping that fasten'd its leg,
The linnet got free again.
While still on the hawthorn bush, &c.
| Mirth and Metre | |