Signor Topsy-Turvy's wonderful magic lantern or The World turned upside down. By the author of "My Mother," and other poems [Ann and Jane Taylor]. Illustrated with twenty-four engravings |
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 | Signor Topsy-Turvy's wonderful magic lantern |  |
68
BIRDS TURNED FOWLERS.
All the birds in the air, once agreed to repair
To a neighbouring field to make merry,
Fine snails, worms, and flies, their table supplies,
And some excellent juice of the cherry.
To a neighbouring field to make merry,
Fine snails, worms, and flies, their table supplies,
And some excellent juice of the cherry.
The owl being there, she was plac'd in the chair,
And the hawk did the honours below;
Two active young quails help'd the party to snails,
And the worms were serv'd up by the crow.
And the hawk did the honours below;
Two active young quails help'd the party to snails,
And the worms were serv'd up by the crow.
Thus assembled in state, a most learned debate
Their wise little poles was employing,
'Twas how they could set about making a net,
To catch a great bird-nesting boy in.
Their wise little poles was employing,
'Twas how they could set about making a net,
To catch a great bird-nesting boy in.
69
The raven for one, said, “the thing might be done,”
And loudly he scream'd approbation;
The sparrow cried, “hush!” “Never mind,” said the thrush,
“I care not who hears his oration.”
And loudly he scream'd approbation;
The sparrow cried, “hush!” “Never mind,” said the thrush,
“I care not who hears his oration.”
The swallow, I take it, consented to make it,
She being remarkably clever;
And all of them thought, that if once he were caught,
It would stop the vile practice for ever.
She being remarkably clever;
And all of them thought, that if once he were caught,
It would stop the vile practice for ever.
One little grey bird, begging leave to be heard,
Said, “really I very much doubt it;”
But her mate with a sneer, said “Silence, my dear!
“You ladies know nothing about it.”
Said, “really I very much doubt it;”
But her mate with a sneer, said “Silence, my dear!
“You ladies know nothing about it.”
The nightingale sigh'd, and gently she cried,
That, “revenge would not soften her woe,”
The linnet said, “Well, do you hear philomel?”
“O never mind her,” said the crow.
That, “revenge would not soften her woe,”
The linnet said, “Well, do you hear philomel?”
“O never mind her,” said the crow.
70
“Why no,” said the robin, “she's always a-sobbing;
“We shall not mind that, I can tell her.”
“For shame!” cried the hawk, “how rudely you talk,
“You are an impertinent fellow!”
“We shall not mind that, I can tell her.”
“For shame!” cried the hawk, “how rudely you talk,
“You are an impertinent fellow!”
Now firmly agreed that the plan would succeed,
They revell'd in merriment hearty,
Till the owl with much state, said, “'twas growing so late,
“That she begg'd leave to break up the party.”
They revell'd in merriment hearty,
Till the owl with much state, said, “'twas growing so late,
“That she begg'd leave to break up the party.”
So it follow'd in short, that the robber was caught,
And the birds were all highly elated;
But how it came about, that he found his way out,
Our history never related.
And the birds were all highly elated;
But how it came about, that he found his way out,
Our history never related.
71
Now to him who can bear little birds to ensnare,
This moral at least may occur—
Tho' none of them yet, ever made such a net,
It would serve him just right if they were.
This moral at least may occur—
Tho' none of them yet, ever made such a net,
It would serve him just right if they were.
J.
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