THE ROSE. THE rose had been washed, just washed in a shower, The plentiful moisture encumbered the flower, The cup was all filled, and the leaves were all wet, To weep for the buds it had left with regret I hastily seized it, unfit as it was For a nosegay, so dripping and drowned; "And such," I exclaimed, "is the pitiless part Regardless of wringing and breaking a heart "This elegant rose, had I shaken it less, Might have bloomed with its owner awhile; t ODE TO APOLLO. ON AN INK-GLASS ALMOST DRIED IN THE SUN. PATRON of all those luckless brains That, to the wrong side leaning, Indite much metre with much pains, And little or no meaning: Ah why, since oceans, rivers, streams, Why, stooping from the noon of day, Upborne into the viewless air, It floats a vapour now, Impelled through regions dense and rare Ordained, perhaps, ere summer flies, Illustrious drop! and happy then Phoebus, if such be thy design, To place it in thy bow, Give wit, that what is left may shine I SHALL not ask Jean Jacques Rousseau 'Tis clear that they were always able A story of a cock and bull, Must have a most uncommon skull. It chanced then on a winter's day, But warm and bright and calm as May, To forestall sweet St. Valentine, And with much twitter and much chatter Began to agitate the matter. At length a Bullfinch, who could boast * It was one of the whimsical speculations of this philosopher, that all fables which ascribe reason and speech to animals should be withheld from children, as being only vehicles of decepBut what child was ever deceived by them, or can be, against the evidence of his senses? tion. "My friends! be cautious how ye treat The subject upon which we meet ; I fear we shall have winter yet." A Finch, whose tongue knew no control, With golden wing and satin poll, A last year's bird, who ne'er had tried By his good will would keep us single My dear Dick Redcap, what say you?" Dick heard, and tweedling, ogling, bridling, Turning short round, strutting, and sidling, Attested, glad, his approbation Of an immediate conjugation. All paired, and each pair built a nest. But though the birds were thus in haste, Themselves were chilled, their eggs were addled : Grew quarrelsome, and pecked each other, Parted without the least regret, Except that they had ever met, 'MORAL. Misses! the tale that I relate THE DOG AND THE WATER-LILY. THE noon was shady, and soft airs NO FABLE. My spaniel, prettiest of his race, Now wantoned, lost in flags and reeds, It was the time when Ouse displayed Their beauties I intent surveyed With cane extended far, I sought But still the prize, though nearly caught, Beau marked my unsuccessful pains And puzzling set his puppy brains But with a cherup clear and strong I thence withdrew, and followed long My ramble ended, I returned; I saw him with that lily cropped My quick approach, and soon he dropped Charmed with the sight, "The world," I cried, "Shall hear of this thy deed: My dog shall mortify the pride Of man's superior breed: But chief myself I will enjoin, To show a love as prompt as thine CATHARINA. ADDRESSED TO MISS STAPLETON (AFTERWARDS MRS. COURTENAY). SHE came-she is gone-we have met And meet perhaps never again; The sun of that moment is set, And seems to have risen in vain. Catharina has fled like a dream— (So vanishes pleasure, alas!) But has left a regret and esteem That will not so suddenly pass. The last evening ramble we made,— By the nightingale warbling nigh. And much she was charmed with a tone Less sweet to Maria and me, Who so lately had witnessed her own. * Sir Robert Gunning's daughters. A HERMIT (or if 'chance you hold Just reached it when the sun was set. |