But soon my ear caught the glad news,

Which serv'd my weak thought for a guide-That Britannia, renown'd o'er the waves.

For the hatred she ever has shown

To the black-sceptred rulers of slaves,

Resolves to have none of her own.

48

THE

NIGHTINGALE AND GLOW-WORM.

A NIGHTINGALE, that all day long
Had cheer'd the village with his song,
Nor yet at eve his note suspended,
Nor yet when eventide was ended,
Began to feel, as well he might,
The keen demands of appetite;
When, looking eagerly around,

He spied far off, upon the ground,

A something shining in the dark,

And knew the glow-worm by his spark; 10
So, stooping down from hawthorn top,
He thought to put him in his crop.
The worm, aware of his intent,
Harangu'd him thus, right eloquent-
Did you admire my lamp, quoth he,
As much as I your minstrelsy,
You would abhor to do me wrong,
As much as I to spoil your song;
For 'twas the selfsame pow'r divine
Taught you to sing, and me to shine;
That you with music, I with light,
Might beautify and cheer the night.
The songster heard his short oration,
And warbling out his approbation,
Releas'd him, as my story tells,

And found a supper somewhere else

Hence jarring sectaries may learn

Their real int'rest to discern;

20

That brother should not war with brother,

And worry and devour each other;

But sing and shine by sweet consent,

Till life's poor transient night is spent,
Respecting in each other's case

The gifts of nature and of grace.

Those Christians best deserve the name,

Who studiously make peace their aim;
Peace, both the duty and the prize

30

Of him that creeps and him that flies.

38

ON A GOLDFINCH,

STARVED TO DEATH IN HIS CAGE.

TIME was when I was free as air,
The thistle's downy seed my fare,

My drink the morning dew;

I perch'd at will on ev'ry spray,

My form genteel, my plumage gay,

My strains for ever new.

But gaudy plumage, sprightly strain,
And form genteel, were all in vain,

And of a transient date;

For caught, and cag'd, and starv'd to death,

In dying sighs my little breath

Soon pass'd the wiry grate.

Thanks, gentle swain, for all my woes,

And thanks for this effectual close

And cure of ev'ry ill!

More cruelty could none express;
And I, if you had shown me less,

Had been your pris'ner still.

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18

THE

PINEAPPLE AND BEE.

THE pineapples, in triple row,
Were basking hot, and all in blow;
A bee of most discerning taste

Perceiv'd the fragrance as he pass'd.
On eager wing the spoiler came,

And search'd for crannies in the frame,
Urg'd his attempt on ev'ry side,

To ev'ry pane his trunk applied;

But still in vain, the frame was tight,
And only pervious to the light:

Thus having wasted half the day,
'He trimm'd his flight another way.

Methinks, I said, in thee I find

The sin and madness of mankind.
To joys forbidden man aspires,
Consumes his soul with vain desires;

10