Poems, chiefly pastoral By John Cunningham. The second edition. With the Addition of several pastorals and other pieces |
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THE THRUSH AND PYE:
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 | Poems, chiefly pastoral |  |
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THE THRUSH AND PYE:
A TALE.
Conceal'd within an hawthorn bush,
We're told, that an experienc'd Thrush
Instructed, in the prime of spring,
Many a neighbouring bird to sing.
She caroll'd, and her various song
Gave lessons to the list'ning throng:
But (the entangling boughs between)
'Twas her delight to teach unseen.
We're told, that an experienc'd Thrush
Instructed, in the prime of spring,
Many a neighbouring bird to sing.
She caroll'd, and her various song
Gave lessons to the list'ning throng:
But (the entangling boughs between)
'Twas her delight to teach unseen.
At length, the little wond'ring race
Would see their fav'rite face to face;
They thought it hard to be deny'd,
And begg'd that she'd no longer hide.
O'er modest, worth's peculiar fault,
Another shade the tut'ress sought;
And loth to be too much admir'd,
In secret from the bush retir'd.
Would see their fav'rite face to face;
They thought it hard to be deny'd,
And begg'd that she'd no longer hide.
O'er modest, worth's peculiar fault,
Another shade the tut'ress sought;
And loth to be too much admir'd,
In secret from the bush retir'd.
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An impudent, presuming Pye,
Malicious, ignorant, and sly,
Stole to the matron's vacant seat,
And in her arrogance elate,
Rush'd forward—with—“My friends, you see
“The mistress of the choir in me:
“Here, be your due devotion paid,
“I am the songstress of the shade.”
Malicious, ignorant, and sly,
Stole to the matron's vacant seat,
And in her arrogance elate,
Rush'd forward—with—“My friends, you see
“The mistress of the choir in me:
“Here, be your due devotion paid,
“I am the songstress of the shade.”
A Linnet, that sat list'ning nigh,
Made the impostor this reply:
“I fancy, friend, that vulgar throats
“Were never form'd for warbling notes:
“But if these lessons came from you,
“Repeat them in the public view;
“That your assertions may be clear,
“Let us behold as well as hear.”
Made the impostor this reply:
“I fancy, friend, that vulgar throats
“Were never form'd for warbling notes:
“But if these lessons came from you,
“Repeat them in the public view;
“That your assertions may be clear,
“Let us behold as well as hear.”
The length'ning song, the soft'ning strain,
Our chatt'ring Pye attempts in vain,
For to the fool's eternal shame,
All she could compass was a scream.
Our chatt'ring Pye attempts in vain,
For to the fool's eternal shame,
All she could compass was a scream.
The birds, enrag'd, around her fly,
Nor shelter nor defence is nigh:
The caitiff wretch, distress'd—forlorn!
On every side is peck'd and torn!
'Till for her vile, atrocious lies,
Under their angry beaks she dies.
Nor shelter nor defence is nigh:
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On every side is peck'd and torn!
'Till for her vile, atrocious lies,
Under their angry beaks she dies.
Such be his fate, whose scoundrel claim
Obtrudes upon a neighbour's fame.
Obtrudes upon a neighbour's fame.
Friend E---n,
the tale apply,
You are—yourself—the chatt'ring Pye:
Repent, and with a conscious blush,
Go make atonement to the Thrush.
You are—yourself—the chatt'ring Pye:
Repent, and with a conscious blush,
Go make atonement to the Thrush.
| Poems, chiefly pastoral | |