Catoninetales A Domestic Epic: By Hattie Brown: A young lady of colour lately deceased at the age of 14 [i.e. W. J. Linton] |
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 | Catoninetales |  |
49
SHOT
Thrice to thine and thrice to mine and thrice again to make up nine.
Shakspere.
Swiftly our Indian Summer came and went:
The crimson maple leaves were trampled down,
The yellow chestnuts in one storm had spent
Their gold; and now the woodside all was brown,
Save for some hemlock standing in its gown
Of green perennial. Then there came a snap
Of biting cold. That too had come and gone;
And warmer days return'd, with pleasant hap
For the sun-loving things on kindly Nature's lap.
The crimson maple leaves were trampled down,
The yellow chestnuts in one storm had spent
Their gold; and now the woodside all was brown,
Save for some hemlock standing in its gown
Of green perennial. Then there came a snap
Of biting cold. That too had come and gone;
And warmer days return'd, with pleasant hap
For the sun-loving things on kindly Nature's lap.
The birds, collecting for their southern flight,
Drifted around our homestead. Fine times these
For Master Robyn,—who ere morning's light
Clomb to the roosts upon the leafless trees
And caught the helpless sleepers at his ease;
Then to his larder, the top cellar-stair,
Took them, a sight that might his mistress please
Thought he. She waken'd, he would make repair
To show her of his prey and providential care.
Drifted around our homestead. Fine times these
For Master Robyn,—who ere morning's light
Clomb to the roosts upon the leafless trees
And caught the helpless sleepers at his ease;
Then to his larder, the top cellar-stair,
Took them, a sight that might his mistress please
Thought he. She waken'd, he would make repair
To show her of his prey and providential care.
50
But not content with plentiful supply,
Brought daily to his board, of choicest food,
His greed, or wantonest fancy, would set by
Home-sureties for chance forage in the wood,—
In sooth a too inviting neigbourhood.
Here would he roam, still seeking newer game;
And of his prowess proud as Robin Hood
Rejoiced him in the wild,—he scorn'd the tame.
Meseems that beasts and men are verily the same.
Brought daily to his board, of choicest food,
His greed, or wantonest fancy, would set by
Home-sureties for chance forage in the wood,—
In sooth a too inviting neigbourhood.
Here would he roam, still seeking newer game;
And of his prowess proud as Robin Hood
Rejoiced him in the wild,—he scorn'd the tame.
Meseems that beasts and men are verily the same.
For also through this woodland often pass'd
The idle fowler out for holiday.
Well, Robyn, fowling too, his quick eyes cast
Upon a tree whereup a squirrel grey
Was running, like a lightning run wrong way.
Good cheer! said Robyn, following up the tree.
The fowler saw but Skug; ere one could say
Back, Robyn! he had fired; and Robyn he
Received the leaden fare sent as the squirrel's fee.
The idle fowler out for holiday.
Well, Robyn, fowling too, his quick eyes cast
Upon a tree whereup a squirrel grey
Was running, like a lightning run wrong way.
Good cheer! said Robyn, following up the tree.
The fowler saw but Skug; ere one could say
Back, Robyn! he had fired; and Robyn he
Received the leaden fare sent as the squirrel's fee.
And like a lump of lead, so Robyn fell.
A Cat-bird, close at hand, beheld his fall
And caught the accents of his passing yell,
Forthwith repeating it with sudden call,
So like unto a four-legg'd caterwaul
That all the birds were frighten'd at the sound;
Till he, the many-voiced, address'd them all
In their own music, hastening them around
To note the Cat as trophy lying on the ground.
A Cat-bird, close at hand, beheld his fall
And caught the accents of his passing yell,
Forthwith repeating it with sudden call,
So like unto a four-legg'd caterwaul
That all the birds were frighten'd at the sound;
Till he, the many-voiced, address'd them all
In their own music, hastening them around
To note the Cat as trophy lying on the ground.
Bidding them to the great Cat's funeral games,
And calling on them, each and every one,
With summons to them by their several names
To attend. But willing answer he gat none,
Perch'd on his bough, the dead Cat o'er, alone.
Only the hawk high hovering, skied and free,
Shriek'd from his poise “the game is all my own.”
And the half-waken'd owl, hid in his tree,
Repeated “all my own” and hooted out his glee.
And calling on them, each and every one,
51
To attend. But willing answer he gat none,
Perch'd on his bough, the dead Cat o'er, alone.
Only the hawk high hovering, skied and free,
Shriek'd from his poise “the game is all my own.”
And the half-waken'd owl, hid in his tree,
Repeated “all my own” and hooted out his glee.
The other birds,—the bobolink, the thrush,
The oriole, the wren, the chickadee,
And every bird that singeth from a bush,
Or skyward soars, or through the grass goes free,
Gave answer, one and all, “What fools were we
To honour him with mourning who hath slain
So many of us. Our worst foe was he.
Wherefore instead of sorrow let us strain
Our tuneful throats in thanks to the Caticide again”
The oriole, the wren, the chickadee,
And every bird that singeth from a bush,
Or skyward soars, or through the grass goes free,
Gave answer, one and all, “What fools were we
To honour him with mourning who hath slain
So many of us. Our worst foe was he.
Wherefore instead of sorrow let us strain
Our tuneful throats in thanks to the Caticide again”
Thus they exultingly. Meanwhile the Dead,
Only cat-dead, crawl'd painfully away.
He could not die in peace so canopied
With just reproach. All through that weary day
He dragg'd him step by step; oft had to stay,
For pain; but reach'd at last our garden fence,
Powerless to clamber o'er. There let him lay!
False grammar? Byron wrote so. What pretence
Have I to better him? You understand the sense.
Only cat-dead, crawl'd painfully away.
He could not die in peace so canopied
With just reproach. All through that weary day
He dragg'd him step by step; oft had to stay,
For pain; but reach'd at last our garden fence,
Powerless to clamber o'er. There let him lay!
False grammar? Byron wrote so. What pretence
Have I to better him? You understand the sense.
Next morn was bright and sunny; he lay there
(Lay there is right) all motionless, quite dead.
What wandering voice, or wind, or bird in the air,
To the other side his hapless story said?
Said, sang, or scream'd in strophes doleful, dread:
Scarce heard when lo! upturning all the mould
Of the garden plot, and resonant in the red
Glare of the morning, rose a hubbub bold,
A full funereal catch, madriggled, manifold.
(Lay there is right) all motionless, quite dead.
What wandering voice, or wind, or bird in the air,
To the other side his hapless story said?
52
Scarce heard when lo! upturning all the mould
Of the garden plot, and resonant in the red
Glare of the morning, rose a hubbub bold,
A full funereal catch, madriggled, manifold.
For all the creatures which had cause to fear
The lives of birds redeem'd by Robyn's death
Came swarming forth, with lamentations drear
For him to whom they owed their lease of breath;
All things above the earth or underneath
Whom birds feed on came out to proffer grief,
With ceremonial dues of dirge or wreath,
For the great Bird-Devourer. Forth from leaf
And bark and root they came, a number past belief.
The lives of birds redeem'd by Robyn's death
Came swarming forth, with lamentations drear
For him to whom they owed their lease of breath;
All things above the earth or underneath
Whom birds feed on came out to proffer grief,
With ceremonial dues of dirge or wreath,
For the great Bird-Devourer. Forth from leaf
And bark and root they came, a number past belief.
The Caterpillars first, as next of kin,
The sad procession headed. First of these
The Arctian Tiger [1] fleet of foot and thin,
Though seeming bulky in his coat of frieze,
Bristly and tufted. Next, in their degrees,
The Leopards, [2] Yellow Bears, [3] and Ermines [4] paced;
And Salt-marsh Caterpillars [5] who from seas
Unable to escape, by the tide out-raced,
Roll themselves up in balls, so are in safety placed.
The sad procession headed. First of these
The Arctian Tiger [1] fleet of foot and thin,
Though seeming bulky in his coat of frieze,
Bristly and tufted. Next, in their degrees,
The Leopards, [2] Yellow Bears, [3] and Ermines [4] paced;
And Salt-marsh Caterpillars [5] who from seas
Unable to escape, by the tide out-raced,
Roll themselves up in balls, so are in safety placed.
These more or less were kinfolk. 'Mong the rest
In the front rank with mighty Polypheme, [6]
Was seen Ceratocampa's [7] royal crest
Of orange black-tipp'd horns that almost seem
To hurl you high defiance,—one might deem
Some warrior donn'd such head-gear, natheless he
Foe-ward is harmless as an infant's dream.
With them green-clad Cecropia. [8] All the three
Were giants. Follow'd them a lowlier company.
In the front rank with mighty Polypheme, [6]
Was seen Ceratocampa's [7] royal crest
Of orange black-tipp'd horns that almost seem
To hurl you high defiance,—one might deem
53
Foe-ward is harmless as an infant's dream.
With them green-clad Cecropia. [8] All the three
Were giants. Follow'd them a lowlier company.
The warted and scant-robed Liparians; [9]
The crested Sycamore [10] with orange hood;
The thornless, downy, soft Egerians; [11]
The pale blue Communist, [12] misunderstood;
The Zebra, [13] learneder than I who could
Those runes decipher written on his back;
The Velled [14] scarce distinguishable from wood;
The Loop-worm, [15] archly bent upon his track,
As fear'd to march too fast, in dread of some attack.
The crested Sycamore [10] with orange hood;
The thornless, downy, soft Egerians; [11]
The pale blue Communist, [12] misunderstood;
The Zebra, [13] learneder than I who could
Those runes decipher written on his back;
The Velled [14] scarce distinguishable from wood;
The Loop-worm, [15] archly bent upon his track,
As fear'd to march too fast, in dread of some attack.
The Skipper, [16] noted for his cleanly house;
The tufted, particolour'd Harlequin; [17]
The tufted Owls, [18] that on the maple browze;
The slender Spindle-worms [19] with hairless skin,
Corn-witherers they; Tent-Habiters [20] who spin
Their path from twig to twig, from leaf to leaf,
Holding a clue for safe returning in
From foraging; the Cut-worm, [21] greasy thief!
Whose greed to the gardener is so daily ground of grief.
The naked Hunchback [22] with his sixteen legs,
If legs which sometimes barely pass for feet;
The Apple-Attila, [23] whose hundred eggs
Lie in one patch till hatch'd by summer heat;
The Wood-Nymph [24] and the Ruiner of Wheat, [25]
Venomous Maia, [26] and Ephestion [27] brown;
The Borer of the Peach, [28] who hath his seat
Within the bark; the Tussock, [29] hickory-known;
And Dryocampa [30] who sets stoutest oaks to groan.
The tufted, particolour'd Harlequin; [17]
The tufted Owls, [18] that on the maple browze;
The slender Spindle-worms [19] with hairless skin,
Corn-witherers they; Tent-Habiters [20] who spin
Their path from twig to twig, from leaf to leaf,
Holding a clue for safe returning in
From foraging; the Cut-worm, [21] greasy thief!
Whose greed to the gardener is so daily ground of grief.
The naked Hunchback [22] with his sixteen legs,
If legs which sometimes barely pass for feet;
The Apple-Attila, [23] whose hundred eggs
Lie in one patch till hatch'd by summer heat;
The Wood-Nymph [24] and the Ruiner of Wheat, [25]
Venomous Maia, [26] and Ephestion [27] brown;
The Borer of the Peach, [28] who hath his seat
54
And Dryocampa [30] who sets stoutest oaks to groan.
The Parsley-worm [31] in robe of apple-green
Spotted with black and yellow alternate,
With orange-colour'd horns,—he came between
The pale green Cabbage-Eater [32] and the great
Thorn-tail'd Potato-worm; [33] the elm-tree's hate,
Horn-shoulder Sphynx [34] and poplar Porcupine [35];
The grape-destroying Hog, [36] in native state;
The dog-tail'd Devastator of the Vine[37]:—
Slowly they crept along, a long funereal line.
Spotted with black and yellow alternate,
With orange-colour'd horns,—he came between
The pale green Cabbage-Eater [32] and the great
Thorn-tail'd Potato-worm; [33] the elm-tree's hate,
Horn-shoulder Sphynx [34] and poplar Porcupine [35];
The grape-destroying Hog, [36] in native state;
The dog-tail'd Devastator of the Vine[37]:—
Slowly they crept along, a long funereal line.
The bristly Hedgehog, [38] brush-like closely shorn;
The Fall Web-worm, [39] of greenish yellow hue,
Black-dotted and black-striped, who leaves forlorn
Our autumn trees; the Luna, [40] greenish blue;
The Forest-Pest, [41] black yellow lined, that thro'
Great woods devouring passes; Io spined; [42]
The Locust Cossus, [43] the Sack-Bearer [44] too;
Slowly, with lingering steps, came on behind
The Shrivel'd Hag, or Slug, [45] so sluggish is her mind.
The Fall Web-worm, [39] of greenish yellow hue,
Black-dotted and black-striped, who leaves forlorn
Our autumn trees; the Luna, [40] greenish blue;
The Forest-Pest, [41] black yellow lined, that thro'
Great woods devouring passes; Io spined; [42]
The Locust Cossus, [43] the Sack-Bearer [44] too;
Slowly, with lingering steps, came on behind
The Shrivel'd Hag, or Slug, [45] so sluggish is her mind.
After these march'd a multitudinous crew:
All shapes, all colours,—greyish white and red
And tawny yellow, black and green and blue,
Orange, ash-grey and purple, striped, or spread
With various spots, some horned, some with head
Crested and body many-legg'd and long:
Fruit-spoilers, borers, spinners of the thread,
Six-eyed, and claw'd, with jaws and nippers strong:
A motley many-visaged life-destroying throng!
All shapes, all colours,—greyish white and red
And tawny yellow, black and green and blue,
Orange, ash-grey and purple, striped, or spread
With various spots, some horned, some with head
Crested and body many-legg'd and long:
Fruit-spoilers, borers, spinners of the thread,
Six-eyed, and claw'd, with jaws and nippers strong:
A motley many-visaged life-destroying throng!
55
This monstrous swarm of Lepidopterous birth,
Too numerous to recount, such hosts are here,
Came honouring the virtue and great worth
Of Him the Bird-Slayer who year by year
Had charter'd them to live unvex'd by fear,
To increase and multiply. Protector now
Was none save men or boys who nought revere,
Who shoot poor birds at rest on some near bough,
Or rob their nests: such thefts O why does Law allow?
Too numerous to recount, such hosts are here,
Came honouring the virtue and great worth
Of Him the Bird-Slayer who year by year
Had charter'd them to live unvex'd by fear,
To increase and multiply. Protector now
Was none save men or boys who nought revere,
Who shoot poor birds at rest on some near bough,
Or rob their nests: such thefts O why does Law allow?
The Lepidoptera past (all silent they,
Too fresh their grief for intermit of word),
Above the trampling of the funeral way
A sound of mournful music might be heard,
As if remorse for silence just then stirr'd
The monotone of sorrow. So it is:
Even too long sorrowful silence seems absurd;
The heart must speak. And better suffer this
Than the melodious moan of melancholy miss,
Too fresh their grief for intermit of word),
Above the trampling of the funeral way
A sound of mournful music might be heard,
As if remorse for silence just then stirr'd
The monotone of sorrow. So it is:
Even too long sorrowful silence seems absurd;
The heart must speak. And better suffer this
Than the melodious moan of melancholy miss,
And also lose the pure heart-moving tale,
The poet's minor song, that plaint most sweet
Which from the full jug of the nightingale—
But such reflections vainly now intreat,
Albeit for our sad subject not unmeet.
Speaking of music,—as I speak there comes
A clearer sound; and now my sense complete,
As one at feasts discriminates the crumbs,
Mine ear distinguishes the bray of kettledrums.
The poet's minor song, that plaint most sweet
Which from the full jug of the nightingale—
But such reflections vainly now intreat,
Albeit for our sad subject not unmeet.
Speaking of music,—as I speak there comes
A clearer sound; and now my sense complete,
As one at feasts discriminates the crumbs,
Mine ear distinguishes the bray of kettledrums.
Broad-headed, prominent-eyed, and shortly limb'd,
Straight wings diaphonous now undisplay'd
The Kettledrummers [46] pacing slowly hymn'd,
In kettledrummish language be it said,
The laud of that great Cat so grandly laid
Beneath his catafalque, for whom they sang
(Or instrumented—are not throats too made?)
Their high Magnificat, with mile-heard bang.
Deafen'd I was as near arrived the tuneful gang.
Straight wings diaphonous now undisplay'd
56
In kettledrummish language be it said,
The laud of that great Cat so grandly laid
Beneath his catafalque, for whom they sang
(Or instrumented—are not throats too made?)
Their high Magnificat, with mile-heard bang.
Deafen'd I was as near arrived the tuneful gang.
When these had pass'd, ere yet the hymn was hid
In the dim distance, came the Grylli [47] by,
Crying capriciously “This Cat, he did,
He did, he did,” with iterative cry,
As at an Irish wake—why did he die?
And following their untuned, unvarying din
Cymbals and Tabors [48] echoed swift reply,
The while the Players on the Violins [49]
Their bow-legs plied,—one tired, the other leg begins.
In the dim distance, came the Grylli [47] by,
Crying capriciously “This Cat, he did,
He did, he did,” with iterative cry,
As at an Irish wake—why did he die?
And following their untuned, unvarying din
Cymbals and Tabors [48] echoed swift reply,
The while the Players on the Violins [49]
Their bow-legs plied,—one tired, the other leg begins.
All leaping as they went; and in their train
The Meadow-Dancers, [50] dancing as in Ind
Those dervishes whom fraud or pious pain
Compels; and then a sound of rushing wind
Fill'd all the space, and hearers' ears were dinn'd
As swept the locusts by in hot desire,
Like noise of chariots yet by war unthinn'd
With many horses charging in their ire,
Or crackling of the prairie overrun with fire.
The Meadow-Dancers, [50] dancing as in Ind
57
Compels; and then a sound of rushing wind
Fill'd all the space, and hearers' ears were dinn'd
As swept the locusts by in hot desire,
Like noise of chariots yet by war unthinn'd
With many horses charging in their ire,
Or crackling of the prairie overrun with fire.
These broke the long procession's equal line:
Soon link'd up by the Scarabæian guards,—
Each one with vizor closed, as sorrowing sign
Respectful for the Dead. All eyes towards
Their glorious panoplies with keen regards
Were cast, some bright with cataphracted gold,
Some fairly striped and beautiful as pards,
Others in splendid colours manifold,
Catadioptrical, most lovely to behold.
Soon link'd up by the Scarabæian guards,—
Each one with vizor closed, as sorrowing sign
Respectful for the Dead. All eyes towards
Their glorious panoplies with keen regards
Were cast, some bright with cataphracted gold,
Some fairly striped and beautiful as pards,
Others in splendid colours manifold,
Catadioptrical, most lovely to behold.
Muse! name a few before they quit thy sight!
Proclaim their blazons so the world may know
How Robyn honour'd was for all the spite
Of Fate, too frequent worker of his woe!—
The shining Areods [51] led in the show,
With golden helmet, lemon-colour'd cloak,
And breeches brown but with a brassy glow,
Shaded with green. No Morning ever woke
More radiantly attired; each bore a sprig of oak.
Proclaim their blazons so the world may know
How Robyn honour'd was for all the spite
Of Fate, too frequent worker of his woe!—
The shining Areods [51] led in the show,
With golden helmet, lemon-colour'd cloak,
And breeches brown but with a brassy glow,
Shaded with green. No Morning ever woke
More radiantly attired; each bore a sprig of oak.
The spotted Pelidnotæ, [52] plainer dress'd,
Be noted next! with mantle dully red
Spotted with black, and darker bronzèd vest,
Their nether limbs in bronze green garmented.
With a broad vine-leaf shadow'd each his head.
The Omalophians [53] mark! in chestnut gown.
But look again! The chestnut-colour fled,
'Tis red, 'tis green that overcomes the brown;
And now it takes all hues to Iris' self beknown.
Be noted next! with mantle dully red
Spotted with black, and darker bronzèd vest,
Their nether limbs in bronze green garmented.
58
The Omalophians [53] mark! in chestnut gown.
But look again! The chestnut-colour fled,
'Tis red, 'tis green that overcomes the brown;
And now it takes all hues to Iris' self beknown.
In creamy white, with train of blue, array'd,
The Melolonthans [54] carry each a rose,
A damask rose-bud on a vine-leaf laid.
Lo where behind them black Atrata [55] goes!
Indian Cetonia [56] follows: as he throws
His overcoat of brownish yellow back
(Sprent with black spots irregular) it glows
With pearly tints. His undercoat is black;
His pantaloons are red. No glory doth he lack.
The Melolonthans [54] carry each a rose,
A damask rose-bud on a vine-leaf laid.
Lo where behind them black Atrata [55] goes!
Indian Cetonia [56] follows: as he throws
His overcoat of brownish yellow back
(Sprent with black spots irregular) it glows
With pearly tints. His undercoat is black;
His pantaloons are red. No glory doth he lack.
Humming a tune, he nibbles at a peach,
Which scarcely tasted he will fling aside:
A reckless rout of ruffians, all and each,
Cetonia [57] leads. With him his brother, wide
Across the chest, and strong, with martial stride;
His armour coppery-lustrous, purplish black:
One knows him better by his scented hide,
Like Russian leather. Well-betray'd his track!
He hopes not for escape unless pursuit be slack.
Which scarcely tasted he will fling aside:
A reckless rout of ruffians, all and each,
Cetonia [57] leads. With him his brother, wide
Across the chest, and strong, with martial stride;
His armour coppery-lustrous, purplish black:
One knows him better by his scented hide,
Like Russian leather. Well-betray'd his track!
He hopes not for escape unless pursuit be slack.
See where the giant-born Lucanians [58] stalk!
The after dwarfs will the Snout-bearers [59] be;
These Pea-Devourers, [60] stealthy in their walk;
Red tails foretell the Attelabidæ; [61]
Corn weevils these Curculionidæ,—[62]
Garb of deep brown cream-spotted they affect.
In violet tinged with green Cerambix [63] see!
With velvet black and gold is Clytus [64] deck'd:
The golden zigzag bands adown his sides deflect.
The after dwarfs will the Snout-bearers [59] be;
These Pea-Devourers, [60] stealthy in their walk;
Red tails foretell the Attelabidæ; [61]
Corn weevils these Curculionidæ,—[62]
Garb of deep brown cream-spotted they affect.
59
With velvet black and gold is Clytus [64] deck'd:
The golden zigzag bands adown his sides deflect.
As at some noble's funeral may come
After patrician carriages the shay
Or commoner waggon, so behind this scum
Of pride in its magnificent array
The dregs of mourning follow'd: not that they
By me are deem'd unfitted to a Muse;
But that time fails me at this turn to say
All their distinctions. Yet a few I choose:
The true historian knows no insignificant news.
After patrician carriages the shay
Or commoner waggon, so behind this scum
Of pride in its magnificent array
The dregs of mourning follow'd: not that they
By me are deem'd unfitted to a Muse;
But that time fails me at this turn to say
All their distinctions. Yet a few I choose:
The true historian knows no insignificant news.
The whole tribe of Aphididæ was there,—
Saltatory Psyllæ and the Aphides:
The last a crowd innumerable,—no pair
Of eyes could separate such swarms as these,
Nor quickest thought their differences seize.
The Coccidæ apart were from the rest.
Little in any was the eye to please:
Some in some kind of tawdry finery dress'd.
Some shabby, taken in mass a lousy lot at best.
Saltatory Psyllæ and the Aphides:
The last a crowd innumerable,—no pair
Of eyes could separate such swarms as these,
Nor quickest thought their differences seize.
The Coccidæ apart were from the rest.
Little in any was the eye to please:
Some in some kind of tawdry finery dress'd.
Some shabby, taken in mass a lousy lot at best.
Hopp'd next the Tettigonians; [65] and then came
The sad Corei: [66] well might all be sad,
These and the hosts forerunning, for the same
Knew of the potent enemies they had
In honest birds, in humane service glad
To rid the earth of predatory kind,—
White-wing'd Lygæons [67] and such robbers bad,
Who with the Phytocorians [68] came behind.
Many are there the like, who throng into my mind.
The sad Corei: [66] well might all be sad,
These and the hosts forerunning, for the same
Knew of the potent enemies they had
In honest birds, in humane service glad
To rid the earth of predatory kind,—
White-wing'd Lygæons [67] and such robbers bad,
Who with the Phytocorians [68] came behind.
60
I would go on, and tell you yet of more
Who interest took in that dear Cat deceased,
Dreading bird-enmity: ay! count the score
Of trespass, nor omit the very least,—
Since Curiosity, insatiate beast!
Asks nothing less of me: but I am tired,
And Pegasus demands to be released.
He'll budge no farther for cat's sake, tho' hired,
Well-fed and ridden well and never more admired.
Who interest took in that dear Cat deceased,
Dreading bird-enmity: ay! count the score
Of trespass, nor omit the very least,—
Since Curiosity, insatiate beast!
Asks nothing less of me: but I am tired,
And Pegasus demands to be released.
He'll budge no farther for cat's sake, tho' hired,
Well-fed and ridden well and never more admired.
I could go on. Do not I hear the wings?
They croud upon my gaze! my poor brains whirl!
The Urocèrids, [69] with spear-headed stings,
Harpies [70] that at our feasts their canvas furl,
And Tortrices—My note-book's leaves upcurl
As they—
At this the wondrous vision fled.
I heard Ma talking with a neighbour's girl.
“It is that insect Harris book,” Ma said,
“The nasty insect book put maggots in her head.”
They croud upon my gaze! my poor brains whirl!
The Urocèrids, [69] with spear-headed stings,
Harpies [70] that at our feasts their canvas furl,
And Tortrices—My note-book's leaves upcurl
As they—
At this the wondrous vision fled.
I heard Ma talking with a neighbour's girl.
“It is that insect Harris book,” Ma said,
“The nasty insect book put maggots in her head.”
“These drums are formed of convex pieces of parchment, gathered into numerous fine plaits, lodged in cavities on the side of the body, behind the thorax. They are not play'd upon with sticks; but by muscles and cords fastened to the insides of the drums . . . which enables them to emit an excessively loud sound, which may be heard at the distance of a mile.” Harris, on Insects &c. page 204.
“The males have not the cymbals and tabors of the crickets and grasshoppers; their instruments may rather be likened to violins, their hind legs being the bows. . . . When one begins to play he bends the shank of one hind leg beneath the thigh, where it is lodged in a furrow designed to receive it, and then draws the leg briskly up and down. . . . He does not play both fiddles together, but plays them alternately.” Harris, on Insects &c. page 165.
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