Poems, on sacred and other subjects and songs, humorous and sentimental: By the late William Watt. Third edition of the songs only--with additional songs |
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Fable: THE REDBREAST AND LINNET. |
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 | Poems, on sacred and other subjects |  |
Fable: THE REDBREAST AND LINNET.
Upon an evening calm and fair,
A redbreast, unperplex'd with care,
Sat on a branching old elm tree,
Chanting his lay with matchless glee:
He found his voice in famous tune,
And emulously thought that soon
He'd rival either merle or thrush,
Who sang in brake or birken bush.
But, while in zenith of his pride,
A falcon up the glen did glide,
Whom, when poor robin saw, woe's me!
He darted from his fav'rite tree
Into a close beech-hedge, where sat
A linnet, little gi'en to chat,
Who thus, with scornful envious leer,
Did little trembling robin jeer:—
A redbreast, unperplex'd with care,
Sat on a branching old elm tree,
Chanting his lay with matchless glee:
He found his voice in famous tune,
And emulously thought that soon
He'd rival either merle or thrush,
Who sang in brake or birken bush.
But, while in zenith of his pride,
A falcon up the glen did glide,
Whom, when poor robin saw, woe's me!
He darted from his fav'rite tree
Into a close beech-hedge, where sat
A linnet, little gi'en to chat,
Who thus, with scornful envious leer,
Did little trembling robin jeer:—
“Friend, what means this abrupt transition?
Your plight doth fill me with suspicion!
Are foes abroad?”—Quoth Robin, “Hush!
A falcon hovers o'er the bush!
'Tis strange that Jove, so wondrous wise,
Should place such tyrants in the skies!
A person scarce can show his face,
For death appears in every place:
I swear—'tis cruel and unjust
Thus to permit despotic lust:
But words are vain; what must be must!”
Your plight doth fill me with suspicion!
Are foes abroad?”—Quoth Robin, “Hush!
A falcon hovers o'er the bush!
'Tis strange that Jove, so wondrous wise,
Should place such tyrants in the skies!
A person scarce can show his face,
For death appears in every place:
I swear—'tis cruel and unjust
Thus to permit despotic lust:
But words are vain; what must be must!”
268
Sir Linty, through a crevice peeping,
Says, “Friend, refrain your peevish cheeping—
The foe is gone—we're free from harm!”
Says Robin, “Thanks! faith, there's a worm!”
He swoop'd the victim in a trice,
And gulp'd him, saying, “eigh! that's nice!
May every wight, by land and sea,
As sure of supper be as me!”
Says, “Friend, refrain your peevish cheeping—
The foe is gone—we're free from harm!”
Says Robin, “Thanks! faith, there's a worm!”
He swoop'd the victim in a trice,
And gulp'd him, saying, “eigh! that's nice!
May every wight, by land and sea,
As sure of supper be as me!”
The Linnet smartly then rejoin'd—
“Sir, you possess a sophist's mind!
Should Jove but hearken to your prayer,
How nobly would that falcon fare;
Nor would the deed more cruel be
Than what's transacted now by thee.”
“Sir, you possess a sophist's mind!
Should Jove but hearken to your prayer,
How nobly would that falcon fare;
Nor would the deed more cruel be
Than what's transacted now by thee.”
Hence, every peevish clown may see
The conduct how unholy,
Of charging Providence divine
With deeds unjust, or folly:
And, hence, a precept proffer'd is
To each reforming elf—
Ne'er to reform a government
Till he reform himself.
The conduct how unholy,
Of charging Providence divine
With deeds unjust, or folly:
And, hence, a precept proffer'd is
To each reforming elf—
Ne'er to reform a government
Till he reform himself.
| Poems, on sacred and other subjects | |