But such a tree! 'twas shaven deal, And had a hollow with a wheel, Through which the tackle pass'd. Within that cavity aloft Their roofless home they fixt; Form'd with materials neat and soft, Bents, wool, and feathers mixt. Four ivory eggs soon pave its floor, With russet specks bedight :— The vessel weighs-forsakes the shoreg And lessens to the sight. The mother bird is gone to sea, But goes the mate? Far wiser he No! Soon as from ashore he saw He flew to reach it, by a law Then perching at his consort's side, The seaman, with sincere delight, Scarce less exulting in the sight, Than when he tows a prize. For seamen much believe in signs, Hail! honour'd land! a desert, where Whom nothing could divide. And ye, who rather than resign To whose lean country, much disdain Be it your fortune, year by year, THE FOUR AGES. [A BRIEF FRAGMENT OF AN EXTENSIVE PROJECTED POEM. M.] "I COULD be well content, allow'd the use Of past experience, and the wisdom glean'd VOL. I. From worn-out follies, now acknowledg'd such, Thus, while grey evening lull'd the wind, and call'd "Could'st thou in truth? and art thou taught at length This wisdom, and but this from all the past? Is not the pardon of thy long arrear, Time wasted, violated laws, abuse Of talents, judgments, mercies, better far I heard, and acquiesc'd; then to and fro Knows he his origin can he ascend Deep mysteries both! which schoolmen much have toil'd Tunriddle, and have left them mysteries still. It is an evil incident to man, And of the worst, that unexplor'd he leaves TO THE NIGHTINGALE, Which the Author heard sing on New-Year's day, 1792. WHENCE is it, that amaz'd I hear This foremost morn of all the year, And why, since thousands would be proud Am I selected from the crowd, To witness it alone! Sing'st thou, sweet Philomel, to me For that I also long Have practis'd in the groves like thee, Or sing'st thou rather under force Thrice welcome, then! for many a long But thee no wintry skies can harm, To make e'en January charm, TO A YOUNG FRIEND, On his arrival at Cambridge wet, when no rain had fallen there. IF Gideon's fleece, which drench'd with dew he found, |