Why, stooping from the noon of day, Upborne into the viewless air, It floats a vapour now, Impell'd through regions dense and rare, Illustrious drop! and happy then Phoebus, if such be thy design, Give wit, that what is left may shine THE POET'S NEW-YEAR'S GIFT. TO MRS. (AFTERwards lady) THROCKMORTON. MARIA! I have every good For thee wish'd many a time, Both sad and in a cheerful mood, But never yet in rhyme. To wish thee fairer is no need, More prudent, or more sprightly, What favour then not yet possess'd In wedded love already bless'd, None here is happy but in part; Full bliss is bliss divine; There dwells some wish in every heart, That wish, on some fair future day PAIRING TIME ANTICIPATED. A FABLE. I SHALL not ask Jean Jaques Rousseau1, '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, And with much twitter and much chatter Began to agitate the matter. At length a Bullfinch, who could boast More years and wisdom than the most, Delivered briefly thus his mind : 1 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 deception. But what child was ever deceived by them, or can be, against the evidence of his senses? My friends! be cautious how ye treat A Finch, whose tongue knew no control, A last year's bird, who ne'er had tried By his good will would keep us single Till death exterminate us all. I marry without more ado; My dear Dick Redcap, what say you? Dick heard, and tweedling, ogling, bridling, Turning short round, strutting, and sideling, Attested, glad, his approbation Of an immediate conjugation. Influenced mightily the rest; All pair'd, and each pair built a nest. But though the birds were thus in haste, Except that they had ever met, |