Where Rhenus strays his vines among,
The
egg was laid from which he

sprung,
And though by nature mute,
Or only with a whistle blest,
Well-taught he all the sounds express'd

Of Hagelet or flute.

10

The honours of his ebon poll
Were brighter than the sleekest mole,

His bosom of the hue

With which Aurora decks the skies,

When piping winds shall soon arise,
To

sweep away the dew.

Above, below, in all the house,

Dire foe alike of bird and mouse,

20

No cat had leave to dwell;

And Bully's cage supported stood
On
props

of smoothest-shaven wood,
Large-built and lattic'd well.

LADY THROCK MORTON'S BULFINCH. 341

Well-lattic'd—but the grate, alas!

—
Not rough with wire of steel or brass,

For Bully's plumage sake,
But smooth with wands from Ouse's side,
With which, when neatly peeld and dried,

The swains their baskets make.

30

Night veil'd the pole: all seem'd secure:
When led by instinct sharp and sure,

Subsistence to provide,
A beast forth sallied on the scout,

Long-back’d, long-tail'd, with whiskerd snout,

And badger-colour'd hide.

He, ent’ring at the study-door,
It's ample area 'gan explore;

And something in the wind
Conjectur’d, sniffing round and round;
Better than all the books he found,

Food chiefly for the mind.

40

Just then, by adverse fate impress'd,
A dream disturb'd poor Bully's rest;

In sleep he seem'd to view
A rat fast-clinging to the cage,
And, screaming at the sad presage,

Awoke and found it true.

50

For, aided both by ear and scent,
Right to his mark the monster went-

Ah, muse! forbear to speak
Minute the horrours that ensu’d;
His teeth were strong, the cage was wood

'
He left poor Bully's beak.

O had he made that too his

prey; That beak, whence issu'd many a lay

Of such mellifluous tone,

Might have repaid him well, I wote,
For silencing so sweet a throat,

Fast stuck within his own.

60

THE DOVES.

REAS’NING at ev'ry step he treads,
Man yet mistakes his

way, While meaner things, whom instinct leads,

Are rarely known to stray.

One silent eye I wander'd late,

And heard the voice of love;

The turtle thus address'd her mate,

And sooth'd the list’ning dove;

Our mutual bond of faith and truth

10

No time shall disengage,
Those blessings of our early youth

Shall cheer our latest age:

While innocence without disguise,

And constancy sincere,
Shall fill the circles of those eyes,

And mine can read them there;

Those ills, that wait on all below,

Shall ne'er be felt by me, Or gently felt, and only so,

As being shar'd with thee.

20

When lightnings flash among the trees,

Or kites are hov’ring near,
I fear lest thee alone they seize,