The Works of John Hall-Stevenson ... Corrected and Enlarged. With Several Original Poems, Now First Printed, and Explanatory Notes. In Three Volumes |
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| XV. | FABLE XV. THE PETITIONERS FOR A DISSOLUTION OF THE PEAR TREE. |
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 | The Works of John Hall-Stevenson |  |
101
FABLE XV. THE PETITIONERS FOR A DISSOLUTION OF THE PEAR TREE.
A pear-tree fell into disgrace,Exhausting all its strength in leaves,
An idle occupant of space,
A shelter, and a den for thieves,
For birds, perpetually merry,
As long as there was plumb or cherry,
The Orchard, in an ill condition,
Complain'd to Colin they were plunder'd;
To their long grumbling petition,
He only shook his head and wonder'd;
But took at last a resolution,
To cut the useless Pear-tree down.
This was a right of dissolution,
Inherent clearly in the Clown.
Colin in short the ax apply'd,
And made a rupture in the Tree;
When lo! there issued from its side
In streams, the labours of the Bee.
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Sweetheart—Good Catharine, he cried,
You go, said he, at a fine rate;
I vow, you're in a pleasant vein:
Continue in this humour, Kate,
The birds and you shall both remain.
How could they ever sing so sweet,
If our poor birds had naught to eat?
Remain, said he; our humours suit,
Your honey overpays their fruit.
| The Works of John Hall-Stevenson | |