That poverty on sloth depends, The active Bee with pleasure saw A wanton Sparrow long'd to hear Their sage discourse, and straight drew near. The bird was talkative and loud, And very pert and very proud; As worthless and as vain a thing, Perhaps, as ever wore a wing. She found, as on a spray she sat, The little friends were deep in chat; And toil and probity their scheme : When to display her naughty mind, The Sparrow her reply began, Whenever I'm dispos’d to dine, Oh! fie, the honest Bee reply'd, Virtue! rejoin'd the sneering bird, Where did you learn that gothic word ? Since I was hatch'd, I never heard That vijtue was at all rever'd. But say it was the ancient's claim, Yet moderns disavow the name; Unless, my dear, you read romances, I cannot reconcise your fancies. Virtue in fairy tales is seen A prowling cat the miscreant spies, Thus, in her cruelty and pride, The Bears and Bees.. A FABLE. MERRICK.) As two young bears in wanton mood, Forth issuing from a neighbouring wood, Came where th' industrious Bees had stord In artful cells, their luscious hoard; O'erjoy'd they seiz'd with eager haste Luxurious on the rich repast. Alarm'd at this, the little crew : About their ears vindictive flew. The beasts, unable to sustain Tb’unequal combat, quit the plain : Half-blind with rage, and mad with pain,.. Their native shelter they regain; There sit, and now discreeter grown, Too late their rashness they bemoan; And this by dear experience gain, That pleasure's ever bought with paine. So when the gilded baits of vice Are plac'd before our longing eyes,, With greedy haste we snatch our fill, The CAMELION. (MERRICK): OFT bas it been my lot to mark A proud, conceited, talking spark, With eyes, that hardly serv'd at most To guard their master 'gainst a post; Yet round the world the blade has been To see whatever could be seen. Returning from his finish'd tour, Grown ten times perter than before; Whatever word you chance to drop, The travell’d fool your mouth will stop, “ Sir, if my judgment you'll allow“ I've seen--and sure I ought to know" So begs you'd pay a due submission, And acquiesce in his decision. Two travellers of such a cast, As o'er Arabia's wilds they past, And on their way in friendly chat, Now talk'd of this and then of that, Discours'd a while, 'mongst other matter, Of the Camelion's form and nature. “ A stranger animal, cries one, 6. Sure never liv'd beneath the sun : « A lizard's body, lean and long, " A fish's head, a serpent's tongue, * Its tooth with triple claw disjoin'd “ And what a length of tail behind ! « How slow its pace ! and then its hue" Who ever saw so fine a blue?" "s. Hold there, the other quick replies, “ 'Tis green,-I saw it with these eyes, “ As late with open mouth it lay, “ And warm'd it in the sunny ray ; • Stretch'd at its ease the beast I view'd, " And saw it eat the air for food” “ I've seen it, Sir, as well as you, • And must again affirm it blue. " At leisure I the beast survey'd “ Extended in the cooling shade." “ 'Tis green, 'tis green, Sir, I assure ye"“ Green! cries the other in a fury" Why, Sir, d'ye think I've lost my eyes?" « 'T were no great loss, the friend replies, “ For, if they always serve you thus, “You'll find 'em but of little use." So high at last the contest rose, “ Sirs, cries the umpire, cease your pother; " The creature's neither one nor t’other. “ I caught the animal last night, “ And view'd it o'er by candle-light: " I mark'd it well-'twas black as jet . " You stare—but, Sirs, I've got it yet, " And can produce it.” “ Pray, Sir, do: “ I'll lay my life, the thing is blue.” “ And I'll be sworn, that when you've seen " The reptile, you'll pronounce him green.” " Well then, at once to ease the doubt, « Replies the man, I'll turn him out : " And when before your eyes I've set him, “ If you don't find him black, I'll eat him. He said ; then full before their sight Produc'd the beast, and lo!- 'twas white. Both star'd, the man look'd wondrous wise“ My children,” the Camelion cries, (Then first the creature found a tongue) " You all are right, and all are wrong: " When next you talk of what you view, " Think others see, as well as you: “ Nor wonder, if you find that none “ Prefers your eye-sight to his own." |