 | Songs in many keys |  |
79
A PARABLE.
I.
Amongst the birds, I hear none can compare
As critic with the Owl, although I ween
Cross-grained he is, and often full of spleen,
And hooting drives the songsters to despair,—
He gives himself, too, many a jaunty air.
The Lark he rated soundly that the dale
He filled not sweetly as the Nightingale;
The Robin once was asked how he did dare
As critic with the Owl, although I ween
Cross-grained he is, and often full of spleen,
And hooting drives the songsters to despair,—
He gives himself, too, many a jaunty air.
The Lark he rated soundly that the dale
He filled not sweetly as the Nightingale;
The Robin once was asked how he did dare
To lift his voice, since he was not a Thrush;
And the poor Wren, because he sings so small,
Was bidden to keep silence in the bush;
The Greenfinch was sent rudely to the wall.
O sapient Owl! to Nature lend an ear,
All songsters, great and small, to her are dear.
And the poor Wren, because he sings so small,
Was bidden to keep silence in the bush;
The Greenfinch was sent rudely to the wall.
O sapient Owl! to Nature lend an ear,
All songsters, great and small, to her are dear.
80
II.
Cries one, “Ye minor singers, stay your verse;
The right of song is theirs who from the lyre
Draw thrilling strains that kindle hearts to fire,
Who charm a rapt and listening universe,
As noble thoughts all grandly they rehearse,
And unto lofty heights of song aspire,
On pinions strong that soaring never tire;
The rest must take their feebleness for curse.”
The right of song is theirs who from the lyre
Draw thrilling strains that kindle hearts to fire,
Who charm a rapt and listening universe,
As noble thoughts all grandly they rehearse,
And unto lofty heights of song aspire,
On pinions strong that soaring never tire;
The rest must take their feebleness for curse.”
Ah! men and critics, say must this be so?
As well hold that the stars should stay their light
Because they are not suns. A taper's glow
Guides some poor wanderer homeward through the night.
From Campbell's reed shall no sweet music flow
For that he cannot Shakespeare's trumpet blow?
As well hold that the stars should stay their light
Because they are not suns. A taper's glow
Guides some poor wanderer homeward through the night.
From Campbell's reed shall no sweet music flow
For that he cannot Shakespeare's trumpet blow?
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