University of Virginia Library

O'er the wide world now I sway,
And my subject realms survey;
Mortals all to me shall bring
Votive prayer and offering.
For the green earth I defend;
All her blooming fruitage tend;
And, ruthless, slay the ravening brood
That lurk within the closed bud,
Or with their million fangs devour
The chalice of the opening flower,
Sit on the trees and suck their fruit,
Or mining sap the secret root.
Through the damask gardens I
Seize the reptile, chase the fly,
Whoe'er with harmful power presume
To waste the sweets or soil the bloom.
Crush'd by my wing the felons lie,
And writhing in their mischief die.
Whereas this day is issued a new proclamation,
Design'd for the safety and good of the nation,
That a talent the state to that citizen pays
Whoever the Melian Diagoras slays,
And another to him who kills over again
Any tyrant soe'er that already is slain;
We therefore hereby think it fit to declare
The rewards that our friends and avengers shall share:
A talent to him who among you shall slay
The poulterer Philocrates gladly we pay,
And four to the man, whosoever he be,
That shall take him alive and conduct him to me;
For our sparrows he strings and sells seven a penny,
Blows our thrushes hung up to be stared at by any;
The plumes from the tails of our blackbirds he gathers,
And thrusts through their nostrils obliquely the feathers:
He catches our doves, and imprisons a troop,
Constrain'd to decoy while inclosed in their coop.
And we further give notice, if any detain
Fowls shut up in his yard, that he loose them again,
On pain that yourselves by the birds shall be seiz'd,
And shut up to decoy till your thralls are releas'd.

Blest the winged tribes that wear
No fleece to fend the winter's air:
Nor again doth sultry ray
Scorch us through the summer day;
Bosom'd deep in leafy green
Then the flowery meadows screen;
While the grasshopper doth sing
With his shrill note clamouring,
All throughout the livelong noon,
Loud and maddening with the sun.
When the stormy season raves,
Winter I in hollow caves,
With the mountain nymphs disporting;
Till with spring again resorting
Once more to the myrtle bowers,
We feed on snow-white virgin flowers,
Dallying where the Graces play
O'er the garden alleys gay.

Ere we further proceed, I have something to say
To the judges about the success of our play;
What gifts, if the conquest to us they decree,
We will grant, such as Paris with envy might see.
First then, what 'tis known every judge would like best,
The Laurian owls shall with you make their nest;
They shall lurk in your purses, the delicate elves,
And hatch little coins there as dear as themselves.
Next your houses with temples in splendour shall vie,
Their roofs crown'd with eagles that gaze on the sky.
If in office you're placed, and would aught filch away,
Little hawks to your fists shall the rapine convey.
And if anywhere you're invited to sup,
We will send you such craws as ye scarce can fill up.
Not so if the victory to us is denied,
To your heads then like statues must plates be applied;
For if you're without, though your raiment's like snow,
Be sure we'll befoul you wherever you go.