University of Virginia Library

Fable—The Duck and the Widgeon

A Duck and Widgeon, who had flown
Far from the sea and weary grown,
Beneath them saw a lovely lake,
Where they their night's repose might take.
Upon its bosom clear and still
The Feathered people swam at Will,
Where Ducks of every kind were seen,
And Divers undisturbed of men,
And dusky Coots of Raven hue,
And Teal with wing of Azure blue.
All these the stranger Birds invite
By friendly signs to stop their flight—
The weary Widgeon judged it best
To take th' advice and seek for rest—
For they had flown for many a league,
And hunger added to fatigue.
So fell the Widgeon, “Duck”, said she,
“A fairer pool you'll seldom see,
“Good company, a silent shore,
“No boys to shout, no gun to roar;
“In such a place we may be sure
“Of food, and shall our rest secure.”
The Duck, who in a former year
Had left the north and wintered here,
Knew more than simple widgeons know,
And as she calmly looked below
On all the witless swimmers there,
Said to her Neighbour: “Have a care,
“Look at that netted, reeded fence,
“And tell me what proceeds from thence.
“'Tis wide, you see, at first, & tall,
“Then smaller grows, then very small,
“And be you sure that nature makes
“No such appendages to Lakes.
“Man is a creature who contrives
“Unnumbered arts, to take our lives,
“And this, the scene of so much Joy
“To foolish birds, is a Decoy.
“For so my Ancestor of old,
“A grey and Reverend Mallard, told.
“‘Be sure’, he said, ‘no man would make
“‘What we behold on yonder lake,
“‘Were he not sure the care & cost
“‘Would be repaid, and nothing lost.’
“Therefore, altho' we weary feel,
“And fain would sleep, & want a meal,
“Yet, cautious, let us further go,
“Nor trust the kindness of a Foe,
“For we, who thus are kindly prest,
“When strangers, to be fed as guests,
“Should think, e'er we consent to stay,
“What kind of reckoning we must pay.”