Plerique à caudâ credunt procedere lumen; Ne pede quis duro reptile contereret: 10 Exiguam, in tenebris ne gressum offenderet ullus, Prætendi voluit forsitan illa facem. Sive usum hunc Natura parens, seu maluit illum, Haud frustra accensa est lux, radiique dati. Ponite vos fastus, humiles nec spernite, magni; Quando habet et minimum reptile, quod niteat. I. THE GLOW-WORM. TRANSLATION OF THE FOREGOING. BENEATH the hedge, or near the stream, A worm is known to stray, That shows by night a lucid beam, Which disappears by day. Disputes have been, and still prevail, Some give that honour to his tail, And others to his head. But this is sure-the hand of might, Gives him a modicum of light Proportion'd to his size. Perhaps indulgent Nature meant, To bid the trav'ller, as he went, Be careful where he trod: Nor crush a worm, whose useful light To show a stumbling stone by night, And save him from a fall. 10 20 Whate'er she meant, this truth divine Is legible and plain, "Tis pow'r almighty bids him shine, Ye proud and wealthy, let this theme Since such a reptile has it's gem, And boasts its splendour too. CORNICULA. BY VINCENT BOURNE. 28 NIGRAS inter aves avis est, quæ plurima turres, Antiquas ædes, celsaque fana colit. Nil tam sublime est, quod non audace volatu, Aeriis spernens inferiora, petit. Quo nemo ascendat, cui non vertigo cerebrum Quâ cœli spiret de regione, docet; 10 Hanc ea præ reliquis mavult, secura pericli, Qui sic humanis rebus abesse velit. 20 II. THE JACKDAW. TRANSLATION OF THE FOREGOING. THERE is a bird, who by his coat, A great frequenter of the church, Above the steeple shines a plate, From what point blows the weather. Look up your brains begin to swim, "Tis in the clouds-that pleases him, He chooses it the rather. 10 |