The Works of Peter Pindar [i.e. John Wolcot] ... With a Copious Index. To which is prefixed Some Account of his Life. In Four Volumes |
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THE OWL AND PARROT. |
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The Works of Peter Pindar [i.e. John Wolcot] | ||
THE OWL AND PARROT.
An owl fell desp'rately in love, poor soul!
Sighing and hooting in his lonely hole—
A parrot the dear object of his wishes,
Who in her cage enjoy'd the loaves and fishes,
In short had all she wanted—meat and drink,
Washing and lodging—full enough, I think.
Sighing and hooting in his lonely hole—
A parrot the dear object of his wishes,
Who in her cage enjoy'd the loaves and fishes,
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Washing and lodging—full enough, I think.
‘Squire Owl most musically tells his tale;
His oaths, his squeezes, kisses, sighs, prevail:
Poll cannot bear, poor heart, to hear him grieve;
So opes her cage, without a ‘By your leave;’
Are married, go to bed with raptur'd faces,
Rich words, and so forth—usual in such cases.
His oaths, his squeezes, kisses, sighs, prevail:
Poll cannot bear, poor heart, to hear him grieve;
So opes her cage, without a ‘By your leave;’
Are married, go to bed with raptur'd faces,
Rich words, and so forth—usual in such cases.
A day or two pass'd amorously sweet;
Love, kissing, cooing, billing, all their meat:
At length they both felt hungry—‘What's for dinner?
Pray what have we to eat, my dear?’ quoth Poll.—
‘Nothing! by all my wisdom,’ answer'd Owl;
I never thought of that, as I'm a sinner;
Love, kissing, cooing, billing, all their meat:
At length they both felt hungry—‘What's for dinner?
Pray what have we to eat, my dear?’ quoth Poll.—
‘Nothing! by all my wisdom,’ answer'd Owl;
I never thought of that, as I'm a sinner;
‘But, Poll, on something I shall put my pats—
What say'st thou, deary, to a dish of rats?’
What say'st thou, deary, to a dish of rats?’
‘Rats, Mister Owl! d'ye think that I'll eat rats?
Eat them yourself, or give them to the cats,’
Whines the poor bride, now bursting into tears.—
‘Well, Polly, would you rather dine on mouse?
I'll catch a few, if any in the house;
Thou shalt not starve, love, so dispel thy fears.’
Eat them yourself, or give them to the cats,’
Whines the poor bride, now bursting into tears.—
‘Well, Polly, would you rather dine on mouse?
I'll catch a few, if any in the house;
Thou shalt not starve, love, so dispel thy fears.’
‘I won't eat rats—I won't eat mice—I won't:
Don't tell me of such dirty vermin—don't:
O that within my cage I had but tarried!’
‘Polly,’ quoth Owl, ‘I'm sorry, I declare,
So delicate, you relish not our fare—
You should have thought of that before you married.’
Don't tell me of such dirty vermin—don't:
O that within my cage I had but tarried!’
‘Polly,’ quoth Owl, ‘I'm sorry, I declare,
So delicate, you relish not our fare—
You should have thought of that before you married.’
This fable aptly also will apply
To Frenchmen—sans-culottes-men. Ah! how? why?
To Frenchmen—sans-culottes-men. Ah! how? why?
The French are changeful fellows, all must grant;
Cameleons—but, ah! changing for the worse:
Poor ignorants, scarce knowing what they want;
Bart'ring too often blessings for a curse.
Cameleons—but, ah! changing for the worse:
Poor ignorants, scarce knowing what they want;
Bart'ring too often blessings for a curse.
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All good, in one word, Novelty, they see!
So strong within them is of change the leaven:
A Frenchman's flutt'ring soul would feel ennui
Ev'n midst the blessed constancy of Heaven!
So strong within them is of change the leaven:
A Frenchman's flutt'ring soul would feel ennui
Ev'n midst the blessed constancy of Heaven!
The Works of Peter Pindar [i.e. John Wolcot] | ||