 | The poems of Dr. Yalden |  |
FABLE VIII. AN OWL AND THE SUN.
A saucy buffle-headed Owl
One morning on the Sun fell foul,
Because it made him blind:
But by his sophistry you'll guess
Him not of the Athenian race,
But a more modern kind.
One morning on the Sun fell foul,
Because it made him blind:
But by his sophistry you'll guess
Him not of the Athenian race,
But a more modern kind.
The morn was fragrant, cool, and bright,
The Sun illustrious with his light,
Dispensing warmth to all:
Madge on a pinnacle was got,
Sputtering and hooting like a sot,
And thus began the brawl.
The Sun illustrious with his light,
Dispensing warmth to all:
Madge on a pinnacle was got,
Sputtering and hooting like a sot,
And thus began the brawl.
“D'ye hear, you prince of red-fac'd fools!
Hot-headed puppy! foe to owls!
Why this offensive blaze?
Behind some cloud go sneak aside,
Your carbuncles and rubies hide,
And quench that flaming face.
Hot-headed puppy! foe to owls!
Why this offensive blaze?
Behind some cloud go sneak aside,
Your carbuncles and rubies hide,
And quench that flaming face.
“When I'm a taking the fresh air,
Whip in my eyes you come full glare,
And so much rudeness show!
I wonder when the modest Moon
Would serve an Owl as you have done,
Or tan and burn one so!”
Whip in my eyes you come full glare,
And so much rudeness show!
I wonder when the modest Moon
Would serve an Owl as you have done,
Or tan and burn one so!”
Bright Phœbus smil'd at what was said,
And cry'd, “'Tis well, sir Logger-head
You've neither sense nor shame!
Because a blinking fool can't bear
An object so transcending fair,
The Sun must take the blame.
And cry'd, “'Tis well, sir Logger-head
You've neither sense nor shame!
Because a blinking fool can't bear
An object so transcending fair,
The Sun must take the blame.
Shall I the universe benight,
And rob the injur'd world of light,
Because you rail and scowl;
When birds of the most abject sort
Deride and grin you for their sport,
And treat you like an Owl?”
And rob the injur'd world of light,
Because you rail and scowl;
When birds of the most abject sort
Deride and grin you for their sport,
And treat you like an Owl?”
THE MORAL.
Who libel senates, and traduce the great,
Measure the public good by private hate:
Interest's their rule of love; fierce to oppose
All whom superior virtue makes their foes.
Measure the public good by private hate:
Interest's their rule of love; fierce to oppose
All whom superior virtue makes their foes.
Thy merits, Rochester, thus give offence;
The guilty faction hates discerning sense:
Thus Harley, Seymour, Howe, and Mackworth find,
Great eye-sores to the loud rapacious kind;
But, whilst in holes addressing Owls repine,
Bright as the Sun their patriot names will shine.
The guilty faction hates discerning sense:
Thus Harley, Seymour, Howe, and Mackworth find,
Great eye-sores to the loud rapacious kind;
But, whilst in holes addressing Owls repine,
Bright as the Sun their patriot names will shine.
| The poems of Dr. Yalden | |