ON THE DEATH OF MRS. (NOW LADY) THROCKMORTON'S BULFINCH. YE nymphs! if e'er your eyes were red Her favourite, even in his cage, Where Rhenus strays his vines among, Or only with a whistle blest, Well-taught he all the sounds expressed The honours of his ebon poll Were brighter than the sleekest mole, With which Aurora decks the skies, Above, below, in all the house, No cat had leave to dwell; And Bully's cage supported stood Well-latticed-but the grate, alas! But smooth with wands from Ouse's side, Night veiled the pole. All seemed secure Subsistence to provide, A beast forth sallied on the scout, He, entering at the study-door, Its ample area 'gan explore; And something in the wind Conjectured, sniffing round and round, Just then, by adverse fate impressed, A rat, fast-clinging to the cage, For, aided both by ear and scent, Minute the horrors that ensued ; His teeth were strong, the cage was wood→ He left it but he should have ta'en: Might have repaid him well, I wote, Maria weeps-The Muses mourn— The tree-enchanter Orpheus fell; His head alone remained to tell THE DOVES. I. REASONING at every step he treads, While meaner things, whom instinct leads, II. One silent eve I wandered late; III. Our mutual bond of faith and truth Those blessings of our early youth IV. While innocence without disguise, Shall fill the circles of those eyes, And mine can read them there; V. Those ills, that wait on all below, As being shared with thee. VI. When lightnings flash among the trees, VII. 'Tis then I feel myself a wife, VIII. But oh! if fickle and unchaste, IX. No need of lightning from on high, Denied the endearments of thine eye, |