Comic Tales and Lyrical Fancies including The Chessiad, a Mock-Heroic, in Five Cantos; and The Wreath of Love, in Four Cantos. By C. Dibdin, the Younger |
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CONCEIT;
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CONCEIT;
OR, THE COCK AND THE HORSES.
Once said a rocket to a star,
“My rays than thine more brilliant are:
See how my glories spread about!”
The star shone on, the squib went out.
“My rays than thine more brilliant are:
See how my glories spread about!”
The star shone on, the squib went out.
A game-cock, of the poultry yard
At once the despot and the guard;
Who at the turkey-cock would fly,
Ne'er let a pig or dog pass by
Uncheck'd, but if they snapp'd he flew
Instant to perch and, taunting, crew;
Who oft had fought, and ever beat;
Whose strut disclosed his vast conceit;
Once in a stable chanced to stray
While the whole team enjoy'd their hay.
The straw they trampled he bereft
Of casual grain, by thresher left;
But, venturing 'mid their pond'rous feet,
At his life's hazard sought the meat,
Driv'n by their hoofs from side to side.
By danger warn'd, yet stung by pride,
Urg'd by conceit, he rais'd his head,
And, crowing, to the near horse said,
“There's danger here; take care, good brother,
Else we may tread upon each other.”
At once the despot and the guard;
Who at the turkey-cock would fly,
Ne'er let a pig or dog pass by
Uncheck'd, but if they snapp'd he flew
Instant to perch and, taunting, crew;
Who oft had fought, and ever beat;
Whose strut disclosed his vast conceit;
Once in a stable chanced to stray
While the whole team enjoy'd their hay.
108
Of casual grain, by thresher left;
But, venturing 'mid their pond'rous feet,
At his life's hazard sought the meat,
Driv'n by their hoofs from side to side.
By danger warn'd, yet stung by pride,
Urg'd by conceit, he rais'd his head,
And, crowing, to the near horse said,
“There's danger here; take care, good brother,
Else we may tread upon each other.”
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