The songster heard this short oration, That brother should not war with brother, Those Christians best deserve the name, ON A GOLDFINCH, STARVED TO DEATH IN HIS CAGE. TIME was when I was free as air, But gaudy plumage, sprightly strain, And of a transient date; For caught, and caged, and starved to death, In dying sighs my little breath Soon passed the wiry grate. Thanks, gentle swain, for all my woes, And cure of every ill; THE PINE-APPLE AND BEE. THE pine-apples, in triple row, Were basking hot, and all in blow; A bee of most discerning taste, Perceived the fragrance as he passed, On eager wing the spoiler came, And searched for crannies in the frame, Urged his attempt on every side, To every 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 trimmed his flight another way. Methinks, I said, in thee I find The sin and madness of mankind. To joys forbidden man aspires, The silly unsuccessful bee. The maid, who views with pensive air HORACE. BOOK II. ODE X. He that holds fast the golden mean, The little and the great, Feels not the wants that pinch the poor, The tallest pines feel most the power Comes heaviest to the ground; The bolts, that spare the mountain's side, And spread the ruin round. The well-informed philosopher And hopes, in spite of pain; Soon the sweet Spring comes dancing forth, What if thine heaven be overcast, The God that strings the silver bow, If hindrances obstruct thy way, And let thy strength be seen; But O! if fortune fill thy sail With more than a propitious gale, Take half thy canvass in. REFLECTION ON THE FOREGOING ODE. AND is this all? Can Reason do no more, THE LILY AND THE ROSE. Within the garden's peaceful scene The Rose soon reddened into rage, The Lily's height bespoke command, She seemed designed for Flora's hand, This civil bickering and debate The goddess chanced to hear, And flew to save, ere yet too late, The pride of the parterre. Yours is, she said, the nobler hue, Let each be deemed a queen. Thus, soothed and reconciled, each seeks The fairest British fair: The seat of empire is her checks, IDEM LATINE REDDITUM. HEU inimicitias quotics parit æmula forma, Quam raro pulchræ pulchra placere potest Sed fines ultra solitos discordia tendit, Hortus ubi dulces præbet tacitosque recessus, Ira Rosam et meritis quæsita superbia tangunt, Altior emicat illa, et celso vertice nutat, Ceu flores inter non habitura parem, Fastiditque alios, et nata videtur in usus Imperii, sceptrum, Flora quod ipsa gerat. Nec Dea non sensit civilis murmura rixa, Et tibi forma datur procerior omnibus, inquit; His ubi sedatus furor est, petit utraque nympham, Regnant in nitidis, et sine lite, genis. "Tis a sight to engage me, if any thing can, IDEM LATINE REDDITUM. Hei mihi! bis senos dum luctu torqueor annos, Ah ubi nunc merulæ cantus? Felicior illum Sed qui succisas doleo succidar et ipse, Tam subito periisse videns tam digna manere, VOTUM. O MATUTINI rores auræque salubres, O nemora, et læta rivis felicibus herbæ, Quàm vellem ignotus, quod mens mea semper avebat, Ante larem proprium placidam expectare senectam, Tum demùm, exactis non infeliciter annis, TRANSLATION OF PRIOR'S CHLOE AND EUPHELIA. MERCATOR, vigiles oculos ut fallere possit, Nomine sub ficto trans mare mittit opes; Mr. Cowper afterwards altered this last stanza in the following manner: The change both my heart and my fancy employs, Short-lived as we are, yet our pleasures we see, Lené sonat liquidumque meis Euphelia chordis, Sed solam exoptant te, mea vota, Chloe. Ad speculum ornabat nitidos Euphelia crines, Cum dixit mea lux, Heus, cane, sume lyram, Namque lyram juxta positam cum carmine vidit, Suave quidem carmen dulcisonamque lyram. Fila lyra vocemque paro suspiria surgunt, Et miscent numeris murmura mosta meis, Dumque tuæ memora laudes, Euphelia forma, Tota anima interia pendet ab ore Chloes. Subrubet illa pudore, et contrahit altera frontem, THE DIVERTING HISTORY OF JOHN GILPIN. Showing how he went farther than he intended, and came safe home again. JOHN GILPIN was a citizen Of credit and renown, A train-band captain eke was he John Gilpin's spouse said to her dear, Though wedded we have been These twice ten tedious years, yet we No holiday have seen. To-morrow is our wedding day, And we will then repair Unto the Bell at Edmonton All in a chaise and pair. My sister, and my sister's child, Myself, and children three, Will fill the chaise; so you must ride On horseback after we. He soon replied, I do admire I am a linen-draper bold, As all the world doth know, Quoth Mrs. Gilpin, That's well said; Which is both bright and clear. John Gilpin kissed his loving wife; That, though on pleasure she was bent, The morning came, the chaise was brought, But yet was not allowed To drive up to the door, lest all Should say that she was proud. So three doors off the chaise was stayed, To dash through thick and thin. Smack went the whip, round went the wheels, John Gilpin at his horse's side Seized fast the flowing mane, And up he got in haste to ride, But soon came down again: For saddle-tree scarce reached had he, So down he came; for loss of time, Although it grieved him sore; Yet loss of pence, full well he knew, Would trouble him much more. 'Twas long before the customers Were suited to their mind, When Betty screaming came down stairs, "The wine is left behind!" Good lack! quoth he-yet bring it me, Now mistress Gilpin (careful soul!) Each bottle had a curling ear, Then over all, that he might be Equipped from top to toe, His long red cloak, well brushed and neat He manfully did throw. Now see him mounted once again Upon his nimble steed, Full slowly pacing o'er the stones, With caution and good heed. But finding soon a smoother road Beneath his well-shod feet, The snorting beast began to trot, Which galled him in his seat. So, fair and softly, John he cried, But John he cried in vain; That trot became a gallop soon, In spite of curb or rein. So stooping down, as needs he must, He grasped the mane with both his hands, His horse, who never in that sort Away went Gilpin, neck or nought, He little dreamt, when he sat out, The wind did blow, the cloak did fly, Then might all people well discern As hath been said or sung. The dogs did bark, the children screamed, And every soul cried out, Well done! Away went Gilpin-who but he? And still, as fast as he drew near, Their gates wide open threw. And now, as he went bowing down Down ran the wine into the road, Most piteous to be seen, Which made his horse's flanks to smoke As they had basted been. But still he seemed to carry weight, Of Edmonton so gay; And there he threw the wash about. On both sides of the way, Just like unto a trundling mop, Or a wild goose at play. At Edmonton his loving wife From the balcony spied Her tender husband, wondering much Stop, stop, John Gilpin!-Here's the house- The dinner waits and we are tired; But yet his horse was not a whit So like an arrow swift he flew, Shot by an archer strong; Away went Gilpin out of breath, And sore against his will, Till at his friend the calender's His horse at last stood still. The calender, amazed to see His neighbour in such trim, Laid down his pipe, flew to the gate, And thus accosted him: What news? what news? your tidings tell; Tell me you must and shall Say why bareheaded you are come, Now Gilpin had a pleasant wit, And loved a timely joke; And thus unto the calender In merry guise he spoke: I came because your horse would come; My hat and wig will soon be here, The calender right glad to find His friend in merry pin, Returned him not a single word, Whence straight he came with hat and wig; A hat not much the worse for wear, Each comely in its kind. He held them up, and in his turn But let me scrape the dirt away, Said John, it is my wedding-day, So turning to his horse he said, I am in haste to dine; "Twas for your pleasure you came here, Ah luckless speech, and bootless boast! Did sing most loud and clear; Away went Gilpin, and away Went Gilpin's hat and wig: She pulled out half a crown; And thus unto the youth she said, That drove them to the Bell, This shall be yours, when you bring back The youth did ride and soon did meet John coming back amain; Whom in a trice he tried to stop, But not performing what he meant, Away went Gilpin, and away Went postboy at his heels, The postboy's horse right glad to miss |