While the rat is on the fcout,

And the mouse with curious fnout,.
With what vermin elfe infest
Every dish and fpoil the beft;
Frifking thus before the fire,

Thou haft all thine heart's defire

1

Though in voice and shape they be
Form'd as if akin to thee,
Thou furpaffeft, happier far,
Happiest grasshoppers that are,
Theirs is but a fummer's fong,
Thine endures the winter long,
Unimpair'd and shrill and clear,
Melody throughout the year.

IV.

Neither night nor dawn of day,

Puts a period to thy play,
Sing then-and extend thy fpan
Far beyond the date of man-

Wretched man, whofe years are spent

In repining difcontent;

Lives not, aged though he be,
Half a span compar'd with thee.

IV. THE H

1

IV. THE

PARRO T.

I.

IN painted plumes fuperbly dreft,
A native of the gorgeous eaft,
By many a billow tofts

Poll gains at length the Britifh fhore,
Part of the captain's precious ftore,
A prefent to his toast..

II.

Belinda's maids are foon preferr'd

To teach him now and then a word,
As Poll can mafter it;

But 'tis her own important charge

To qualify him more at large,

And make him quite a wit..

III.

Sweet Poll his doating mistress cries,
Sweet Poll the mimic bird replies,
And calls aloud for fack,

She next inftructs him in the kifs,
"Tis now a little one like Miss,

And now a hearty smack.

IV.

At first he aims at what he hears

And liftening clofe with both his cars,

Just catches at the found;.

But foon articulates aloud,

Much to th' amufement of the crowd,
And tuns the neighbours round.

V..

A querulous old woman's voice
His humorous talent next employs,
He fcolds and gives the lie ;.
And now he fings, and now is fick,
Here Sally, Sufan, come, come quick,
Poor Poll is like to die..

VI..

Belinda and her bird! 'tis rare

To meet with fuch a well-match'd pair,

The language and the tone,

Each character in every part

Suftain'd with fo much grace and art,,
And both in unifon..

J

VII. When

VII.

When children. first begin to spell
And ftammer out a fyllable,

We think them tedious creatures;
But difficulties foon abate,

When birds are to be taught to prate,,
And women are the teachers.

THE SHRUBBER Y.

Written in a Time of Affliction..

I.

OH happy shades! to me unbleft,.
Friendly to peace, but not to me,,
How ill the fcene that offers reft,
And heart that cannot reft, agree !!

II.

This glaffy ftream, that spreading pine,
Those alders quiv'ring to the breeze,
Might footh a foul lefs hurt than mine,,
And pleafe, if any thing could please..

III: But

But fixt unalterable care

III.

Foregoes not what the feels within, Shows the fame fadnefs ev'ry where, And flights the feafon and the scene.

IV.

For all that pleas'd in wood or lawn,
While peace poffefs'd these filent bow'rs,
Her animating fmile withdrawn,

Has loft its beauties and its pow'rs.

V.

The faint or moralift fhould tread
This mofs-grown alley, mufing flow,

They feek like me the fecret fhade,
But not like me, to nourish woe.

VI.

Me fruitful fcenes and profpects waste,
Alike admonish not to roam,
Thefe tell me of enjoyments paft,
And thofe of forrows yet to come..

THE