s: Than naughty, and idle, and wicked boys are?


s: For, as long as he liv'd, 'twas his comfort and joy,


s: To think he'd not been an undutiful boy.


s: Whilst you are asleep, the poor little sweep


s: With brushes and bags, and cloth'd all in rags,


s: In the winter, thro' frost and thro' snow.


s: We're oblig'd, I am sure, for what they endure,


s: And often I weep to think that the sweep


s: Then we'll keep in mind, that the sweep's very kind,


s: And never feel fright when he comes in our sight,


s: Tumble down, tumble up, never mind it, my sweet,


s: 'Twas your fault you could not stand straight on your feet,


s: Fall you will, if you twirl yourself round.


s: Oh dear! what a noise:--will a noise make it well?


s: Suppose that it should bleed a little, and swell,


s: That's right; be a man, love, and dry up your tears,


s: If you live in the world but a very few years,


s: You must bear greater troubles than this.


s: We'll go to the meadow, where cowslips do grow,


s: And buttercups looking as yellow as gold;


s: And the daisies and violets beginning to blow,


s: For it is a most beautiful sight to behold.


s: The honey-bee humming about there is seen,


s: The grasshopper chirps in the hedges so green,


s: And the linnet there sings us his liveliest song.


s: The birds and the insects are happy and gay;


s: The beasts of the field all are glad, and rejoice;


s: We, too, will be thankful to God every day,


s: And praise His great name in a loftier voice.


s: "You are old, Father William," a young man did say,


s: You are cheerful, and love to converse upon death:


s: "I am cheerful, young man," Father William replied,


s: In the days of my youth I remember'd my God,


s: The one thing I beg of kind heaven to grant,


s: With passion unruffled, untainted with pride,


s: The wants of my nature are cheaply supplied;


s: The blessing which Providence kindly has lent


s: While sweet meditation and cheerful content


s: When young, what honest triumph flush'd my breast,


s: This truth once known,--To bless, is to be blest!


s: (Bare were his feet, his tresses silver-grey;)


s: Soothed the keen pangs his aged spirit felt,


s: And on his tale with mute attention dwelt.


s: As in his script I dropp'd my little store,


s: I griev'd to think that little was no more;


s: He breath'd his pray'r,--"Long may such goodness live!"


s: 'Twas all he gave, 'twas all he had to give.


s: Be this our joy--to calm the troubled breast,


s: Support the weak, and succour the distrest;


s: Direct the wand'rer, dry the widow's tear;


s: The orphan guard, the sinking spirits cheer.


s: Tho' small our pow'r to act, tho' mean our skill,


s: God sees the heart;--he judges by the will.


s: "Pray help me, young master," an old woman cried,


s: "For I'm very lame, and besides, almost blind,


s: And so, without danger, my way I can't find;


s: "With great pleasure I will," the little boy said,


s: "Come, lean on my shoulder, and be not afraid,


s: And I'm sure I am willing, for I have been taught,


s: That if, my good dame, I would do as I ought,


s: Ali Baba, or the Forty Thieves; coloured frontispiece.


s: Beauty and the Beast, or the Magic Rose; an entertaining


s: Children in the Wood; with four coloured plates.


s: Cinderella, and the Pretty Glass Slipper; with four


s: Entertaining History of Goody Two Shoes; with coloured


s: frontispiece, and ten engravings on wood.


s: Jack and the Bean Stalk; with coloured frontispiece.


s: Jack the Giant Killer; coloured frontispiece.


s: Mother Bunch's Fairy Tales; coloured frontispiece.


s: Peter Puzzle-all's Riddle Book, an amusing collection


s: of Riddles, Charades, &c.; coloured frontispiece.


s: Hood; with coloured frontispiece; and ten engravings


s: Seven Voyages of Sinbad the Sailor; with coloured


s: Tom Thumb, and Puss in Boots; coloured frontispiece.


s: Entertaining History of Whittington and his Cat; with


s: Her back quite straight, her toes turned out:


s: Your Ann should spend your absence here"


s: "Oh, fie!" said Jane, "Pray, cousin Ann,


s: "Fie, fie!" she cried. Ann said "Here goes:"


s: --"She threw things at me, tore my hair,


s: She sighed, "I wondered how she _could!_


s: And giving Jane much well-earned praise.


s: And stalls and tents and swings were seen


s: Now when the fair came round that spring


s: --Go, Jane, and fetch the rod I bought."


s: Jane fetched the rod, and said, "Oh, why


s: With several friends she long had known,


s: "Come, come!" she said, "my little Miss,


s: "Pray, sirs," she asked, "can this be right?"


s: "You 'old your bloomin' row!" they said,


s: They'd beat her till she couldn't crawl.


s: They punched her head and tore her hair,


s: "Look at that child," said one, "I'm sure


s: But at her voice, Jane shrieked and ran,


s: While her Mama screamed out, "You're not


s: Tho' still more good, is still more plain.


s: _A Cloth Case to contain Twelve Volumes can be had, price 2s.


s: net; or the First Twelve Volumes in Case, price £1 net._


s: Won't stand upright, or shut their eyes,


s: _Edward thought he knew better than his Mamma_


s: What! pout your lip, and scream and cry,


s: Smile through her tears, while thus she cries?


s: There on the grass they skip, they sing,


s: It cracks! it breaks! his cries are vain,


s: Poor Ellen flies, with breathless speed,


s: Then, with her playmate's added strength,


s: With shivering limbs and dripping clothes,


s: For three long months poor Edward groan'd


s: These three long months did Ellen strive,


s: She tastes:--"Oh, it is burnt," she cried,


s: Till from your brow you chase that frown,


s: Then, Cuckoo, chaunt thy strain in peace,


s: Which must I have, little black shoes or red shoes,


s: Little thick shoes or thin shoes, which shall be mine?


s: In winter 'tis wet, and the roads are all dirt,


s: In summer 'tis dry, and the weather is fine.


s: Then come, little black shoes, 'tis now winter weather,


s: Your soles are so thick, you will keep me quite dry;


s: Not a splash nor a spot can get into my stockings,


s: So nice and so tight round my ancles you tie.


s: And you, little red shoes, so slender and thin,


s: You shall wait in my draw'r till the dirt's gone away;


s: When I'll walk with mamma when she goes to the farm,


s: You will never feel heavy through a long summer's day.


s: Then red shoes and black shoes, you both shall be mine,


s: The one in the dirt I will constantly wear,


s: The others in summer, when the walks are all dry:


s: So thick shoes and thin shoes rest quietly here.


s: Little girl, little girl, where are you going?


s: Down in the meadow where cowslips are blowing.


s: Little girl, little girl, what to do there?


s: To gather a garland to deck my brown hair.


s: Little girl, little girl, why all alone?


s: My mother has sent me, and playmates I've none.


s: Then follow me, follow me, down to yon wood,


s: Where you shall find playmates both gentle and good;


s: We'll ask them, we'll ask them to join in your play,


s: And your mother shall give you a long holiday.


s: From Erin, from Erin, the cotter shall bring,


s: To twine a gay garland, her shamrock of spring;


s: In her plaid, in her plaid, Scotia's daughter shall come,


s: With the thistle that grows on her mountains at home;


s: The peasant, the peasant of France shall be there,


s: And add to the chaplet his lily so fair;


s: Dark glancing, dark glancing, the daughter of Spain,


s: With the bloom of her orange shall join the gay train;


s: And leaving, and leaving his cold northern tides,


s: A plume from his eagle the Russian provides;


s: Whilst England, fair England, the wreath shall adorn,


s: With her rose-bud more bright than the blushes of morn.


s: Then carol, then carol the sweet strains of peace,


s: May the dreams, may the dreams of ambition be o'er,


s: And the falchion of war be at rest evermore.


s: "Mamma, what a pretty new basket you've got,"


s: "The straw-work below is so firm and so neat,


s: "I am glad you approve it, my love: I myself


s: And when I have told you by whom it was made,


s: You will not, I think, like it the less.


s: "You remember, no doubt, that blind boy on the green,


s: And left him in poverty, sickness, and grief,


s: "A kind and rich lady, who heard his sad case,


s: Then plac'd him secure in the house for the blind,


s: "There they taught him these beautiful baskets to make,


s: And now he's employ'd, and his living can earn,


s: "And may I believe it," cried Emma, "that Jem,


s: Has made this nice basket without any help,


s: "As you doubt poor Jem's powers," her mother replied,


s: "What I've said to be true I must prove;


s: So finish your work, get your bonnet and coat,


s: Her work was soon finish'd, her books all laid by,


s: To the school for the blind she is gone.


s: With delight and amazement there Emma beheld


s: As he platted his basket, he sung to his work,


s: "Ah, mamma," exclaim'd Emma, as home they return'd,


s: Neither gingerbread, comfit, nor nut will I buy,


s: The thrush and blackbird from the spray,


s: And prove their strength, and try their speed:


s: Then through the frost and through the snow,


s: We'll throw the snow-balls far and wide,


s: With shoulders broad, and limbs as long,


s: Bright shines the sun, the gentle breeze


s: "Come hither, George," young Edmund cried,


s: With desperate haste he forward springs,


s: And senseless through the beating surge,


s: With woodbines clustering round the door,


s: The little girl whose flowers these are,


s: The grateful child, who takes such pains,


s: Each plant and flower at length being view'd,


s: The stones I clear'd, and turn'd the soil,


s: And water'd them with plenteous showers:


s: For that good girl, who takes such pains


s: "How can I the south from the north ever know,


s: Oh! how can I tell the east from the west,


s: His mother, who sat at her work by the fire,


s: "Come, listen to me, and I'll soon tell you how,


s: "Wherever the sun rises, there is the east,


s: Wherever at ev'ning he sets from your view,


s: "Now you know where to find both the west and the east,


s: To the left is the south, to the right is the north,


s: When your face is turn'd full to the west."


s: "My dear," cried his mother to William one day,


s: The parlour he enter'd in haste and alarm,


s: "My dear, what misfortune has hurried you now,


s: Have you lost your new ball in the field or the pond?


s: "My ball, my dear mother, is safe in my desk,


s: But I brought a poor boy, whom I left in the hall,


s: "I found him just now, as returning from play,


s: He was stretched on the ground, and senseless and pale,


s: And his face was all covered with blood."


s: "Oh! quick let us go; sure we linger too long,"


s: Cried his mother; "my love, lead the way."


s: William bounded, all eager, and soon reached the place,


s: Where reviving, but weak, his friend lay.


s: His bruises and wounds were examin'd with care,


s: That patience and time would restore him to health,


s: With unwearied attention he sat by his side,


s: If in climbing he fell, or in mischief was hurt,


s: And as eagerly too did his invalid friend,


s: The cause of his suff'rings, and how he was found


s: He had hasten'd, he said, in his play-hour at noon,


s: For some ripe ones to take to his sister at home,


s: Who was ill, and they might do her good.


s: As he climb'd some high rocks in his search for the fruit,


s: He slipp'd, the branch broke, and he fell to the ground,


s: His name too he told, and the place where he liv'd,


s: To tell his good mother her son was now safe,


s: Who promis'd to bring him himself to his home,


s: Darton, Harvey, and Co. Printers, Gracechurch-street.


s: She has black shiny tresses, and curly buff toes,


s: And a heavenly tilt to the tip of her nose!


s: She has three little children, the eldest is four


s: (Nurse says he is naughty enough to be more);


s: The Twins are dear dumplings, and they and their brother


s: This morning poor Mistress O'Hara looks blue,


s: For the third time this week Nurse has come in to say,


s: "If you please 'm, the children have all run away!"


s: "Oh! bother those children--well, first let us look


s: In the larder, to see what provisions they took;


s: If the pumpkin pie's gone, they are off for the day,


s: If they only took raisins, they're not far away."


s: They look in the larder, and what do you think?


s: Find nothing whatever to eat or to drink.


s: "Alack!" says the Cook; "it is just as I feared:


s: The whole of my dinner has clean disappeared."


s: "This is really too bad," says Mama, in a rage,


s: As she slips on her pattens and turns down the page


s: Of the book she is reading, and starts out to find


s: The darlings, to give them a piece of her mind!


s: She takes a big stick and makes tracks for the sea,


s: Where she's pretty well sure all the truants will be;


s: Yama-Guchi, she knows, leads the Twins by the nose,


s: And they patiently follow wherever he goes.


s: Sure enough, the first things that she sees on the shore


s: Are footprints, and further on several more--


s: And still further on there are two little rows


s: Of shoes, and some other superfluous clo'es.


s: But where are the children? The children are _gone_!!


s: Oh! doesn't poor Mistress O'Hara take on!


s: She weeps and she wails and she tears out her hair,


s: And rolls on the sands in the depths of despair.


s: The sand it is gritty, the sand it is dry,


s: It scratches her nose and gets into her eye;


s: Her throat feels as if she had swallowed a peck,


s: And the rolling soon gives her a crick in her neck.


s: So she picks up her pattens, her stick and her fan,


s: And bundles her hair up as well as she can.


s: Next minute it all stands on end with surprise:


s: She stares and she stares, disbelieving her eyes--


s: For there, as if just newly dropped from the skies,


s: Are the children, all looking as chirpy as flies;


s: But what flabbergasts the poor lady the most


s: Is the sight of a MER-BABY, dumped on a post.


s: Such a queer little object she never has seen,


s: It has eyes big as saucers, all glazy and green;


s: A mere speck of a nose, scarcely raised from its face,


s: And a mouth that meanders all over the place.


s: Yama-Guchi is dancing and shouting with glee--


s: "Did you come from the earth, or the sky, or the sea?"


s: Stand solemnly gazing, each sucking a thumb.


s: They implore it to speak, but they are not prepared


s: For the size of its mouth, and are horribly scared;


s: Making sure it is going to swallow them all--


s: Yet its voice when it speaks is quite squeaky and small.


s: "My name's Fishy-Winkle--I live in the sea,


s: To-day I played truant from school, for a spree;


s: But, oh! how I wish that I never had come,


s: For the tide has gone out and I cannot get home."


s: "Cheer up, Fishy-Winkle, and don't make a fuss,


s: Get into the go-cart and run off with us;


s: We've rations for dinner and also for tea,


s: You will find it _much_ nicer than under the sea."


s: They bring up the go-cart and Fishy jumps down.


s: "The more haste, the less speed," for he falls on his crown;


s: No matter, he's in now; they're off and--Houp La!


s: They are soon out of reach of their furious Ma!


s: That _was_ a game, the children shrieked


s: He chased them round and round and round,


s: With rage in her heart and a stick in her hand;


s: So fierce is her frown and so wild is her eye,


s: That poor Yama-Guchi feels ready to die.


s: Her patience is stretched to the end of its tether,


s: She knocks all the heads of the children together;


s: Then--when she's reduced them to sorrow and tears--


s: She repents of her harshness--the poor little dears!


s: She agrees to forget and forgive just once more,


s: And homewards they stroll by the sunshiny shore;


s: You can see by the picture how happy they look--


s: On the next page you'll see the effect on--


s: Errors and Inconsistencies noted by transcriber:


s: Then he gets up--contrairy wise,  [text unchanged]


s: Brothers and sisters you can see,--all children of one family.


s: Their father, too, you here will find, and good Miss Earle, their


s: Turn to the Frontispiece and see the children packing busily.


s: The "Folkestone Express" sped on like a dream,


s: And there lay the steamer fast getting up steam.


s: Then at the Folkestone harbour, down they go


s: Mabel and Rose just crossing you can see,


s: Each holding her new doll most carefully.


s: Nellie, Miss Earle, and Bertie too appear,


s: Whilst Dennis, with the rugs, brings up the rear.


s: May looks behind her with an anxious air,


s: Lest Father, at the last, should not be there.


s: Our children once on board, all safe and sound,


s: Watch with delight the busy scene around.


s: The noisy steam-pipe blows and blows away,--


s: "Now this is just the noise we like," they say.


s: But while the turmoil loud and louder grows,


s: "I'm glad the wind blows gently," whispers Rose.


s: And as the steamer swiftly leaves the quay,


s: Mabel and Dennis almost dance with glee.


s: "How far," says Nellie, "we have come! good-bye, good-bye, dear


s: While chatting with Dennis, Rose lost all her fear;


s: And the swift Albert Victor came safe to the pier


s: At Boulogne, where they landed, and there was the train


s: In waiting to take up the travellers again.


s: But to travel so quickly was not their intent:


s: On a little refreshment our party was bent.


s: Here they are at the Buffet--for dinner they wait--


s: And the tall _garçon_, André, attends them in state.


s: At a separate table sits Monsieur Legros,


s: And behind him his poodle, Fidèle, you must know,


s: Who can dance, he's so clever, and stand and on his head,


s: Or upon his nose balance a morsel of bread.


s: Mabel takes up some sugar to coax him, whilst Nell


s: Calls him to her--Fidèle understands very well--


s: "Why! he must have learnt English, he knows what we say,"


s: Mabel cries, "See!--he begs in the cleverest way."


s: Then to the Hotel on the quay they all went;


s: To remain till the morrow they all were content:


s: After so much fatigue Father thought it was best,


s: For the children were weary and needed the rest.


s: Pictured here is the room in that very Hotel,


s: Where so cosily rested Rose, Mabel, and Nell.


s: Mabel dreamed of the morrow--of buying French toys:


s: Rose remembered the steam-pipe, and dreamed of its noise.


s: Nellie's dreams were of home, but she woke from her trance


s: Full of joy, just to think they were _really_ in France.


s: Very early next morning, you see them all three


s: Looking out from their window that faces the sea.


s: And heard strange places called out by the way,


s: Where bells kept tinkling while the train delayed:


s: At Amiens ten minutes quite they stayed.


s: Dennis bought chocolate to make a feast--


s: They had _three_ dinners in the train, at least.


s: At Rouen here they are at last, though late--


s: The bedroom clock there shows 'tis after eight!


s: Mabel looks tired--she lies back in her chair


s: Beside the wood fire burning brightly there.


s: Rose says--"Good-night!"--to Bertie fast asleep,


s: While her own eyes can scarcely open keep.


s: Next morning, through the quaint old streets of Rouen


s: They went to see the old church of Saint Ouen,


s: With eager feet, and chatting as they walked,


s: About the ancient Town, together talked.


s: Now they have come into the entrance wide


s: Of great St. Ouen's Church; see, side by side,


s: The others watch yon beggar at the door--


s: Poor blind Pierre; he always waits just so,


s: Listening for those who come and those who go.


s: He tells his beads, and hopes all day that some


s: May think of him, 'mongst those who chance to come.


s: Though he can't see, he is so quick to hear,


s: He knows a long, long time ere one draws near,


s: And shakes the coppers in his well-worn tin--


s: "Click, click," it goes--see, Bertie's gift drops in.


s: 'Tis his _one_ sou that Bertie gives away--


s: It might have bought him sweets this very day.


s: When through St. Ouen's Church they'd been at last,


s: Along its aisles and down its transept passed,


s: They went to the Cathedral, there to see


s: The tomb of Rolf, first Duke of Normandy.


s: But Mabel said, "Why should we _English_ care


s: About that Rolf they say was buried there?"


s: Then she ran on, not waiting for reply--


s: My little reader, can _you_ tell her why?


s: Children are happy with "Sister" all day,


s: Mothers can't nurse them--they work far away.


s: E'en when they're troublesome, she doesn't mind.


s: Over yon cradle bends kind Sister Claire,


s: The school-room of the _Crèche_ is wide,


s: While "Sister" hears their lessons through,


s: Click-clack it goes, click-clack, click-clack.


s: Through Rouen when our friends had been,


s: _Monsieur le Maître_, with scrape and bow,


s: With _femme de chambre_ the way to show.


s: _Monsieur le Maître_, who rubs his hands


s: And says, "What are _Monsieur's_ commands?"


s: Now that dinner is ordered, we'll just take a peep


s: At the cooks in the kitchen--just see! what a heap


s: Of plates are provided, and copper pans too;--


s: They'll soon make a dinner for me and for you.


s: French cookery's famous for flavouring rare,


s: But of _garlic_ I think they've enough and to spare.


s: If we ask how their wonderful dishes are made,


s: I'm afraid they won't tell us the tricks of the trade.


s: Do they make them, I wonder, of frogs and of snails?


s: Or are these, after all, only travellers' tales?


s: The names are all down on the "Menu," no doubt,


s: But the worst of it is that we can't make them out.


s: "L'homme qui passe," in France they call


s: But when they're finished he'll be gone.


s: The man makes jokes with careless smile,


s: Little Lili, whose age isn't three years quite,


s: Went one day with Mamma for a long country walk,


s: Keeping up, all the time, such a chatter and talk


s: Of the trees, and the flowers, and the cows, brown and white.


s: Soon she asked for some cake, and some chocolate too,


s: For this was her favourite lunch every day--


s: "Dear child," said Mamma, "let me see--I dare say


s: "If I ask that nice milkmaid, and say it's for you,


s: Some sweet milk we can get from her pretty white cow."


s: "I would rather have chocolate," Lili averred.


s: Then Mamma said, "Dear Lili, please don't be absurd;


s: My darling, you cannot have chocolate now:


s: You know we can't get it so far from the town.--


s: Come and stroke the white cow,--see, her coat's soft as silk."


s: "But, Mamma," Lili said, "if the _White_ cow gives milk,


s: Then chocolate surely must come from the _Brown_."


s: The whole day long, from morning to night,


s: The threads on the pillow--not one is missed:


s: Each bobbin would seem to rise from its place


s: From the threads, as under our eyes it grows:--


s: How quickly follow stem, leaves, and flower,


s: As if under the spell of enchanter's power.


s: Look at old Nannette--she can scarcely see,


s: Yet none can make lovelier lace than she;


s: And her grand-daughter Julie--just seven years old,


s: Is learning already the bobbins to hold.


s: Without drawings to follow, or patterns to trace,


s: How can these poor cottagers fashion their lace?


s: From the plant and the flower and unfolding fern


s: And the frost on the pane their patterns they learn,--


s: They've learned to fashion their wonderful lace.


s: The white-robed priests, the nuns so neat,


s: Paris, gay Paris! so bright and so fair,


s: Your sun is all smiles, and there's mirth in your air.


s: The children, though tired with their travelling, found


s: That the first night in Paris one's sleep is not sound,


s: For the hum of the streets makes one dream all the night


s: Of the wonderful sights that will come with the light.


s: The morning was fine, and--breakfast despatched--


s: They soon made their way to the Gardens attached


s: To the old Royal Palace, and there met a throng


s: Of French children, and joined in their games before long.


s: One boy lent his hoop, and gave Bertie a bun.


s: And--talking quite fast--seemed to think it great fun


s: With nice English girls like our Nellie to play,


s: Though not understanding a word she might say.


s: On leaving the Gardens, the party were seated


s: Outside of a _café_, and there Papa treated


s: Them all to fine ices and chocolate too;


s: They could hardly tell which was the nicer--could you?


s: In the Tuileries gardens, each afternoon,


s: Now watch what happens! for just as soon


s: As they see him, the birds begin their song,


s: And perch on his shoulder quite at their ease,


s: For he fills his pockets with crumbs of bread


s: To feed his friends who live in the trees,


s: That into his pockets they sometimes go.


s: And I think, from the looks of poor Mr. P.,


s: He's getting it hot from his scolding wife;


s: But just wait a minute, and then you'll see


s: He'll beat her within an inch of her life.


s: Walk in! take a seat and you'll see her beat,


s: And a penny is all you pay for the treat.


s: Where shall we go to next? they still would say,


s: And still they found new pleasures every day.


s: At times Miss Earle took Bertie for a ride,


s: With little Rose and Mabel side by side;


s: And then their father took the elder two


s: Historic buildings, where they sometimes rested,


s: And many a bit of history was suggested.


s: Then went to "Notre Dame," close by the Seine,


s: And climbed the lofty tower, to see the view


s: Which cannot be surpassed the whole world through.


s: One day their father took them all to see


s: The artists of the "Middle Age" designed;--


s: And precious things in silver and in gold,


s: Are turned, "King Henry's Staircase" Bertie spies,


s: And climbing up, with help from sister May,


s: He calls to Dennis, when he gets half-way,


s: "Come catch me quick!"--and then runs off, with peals


s: Of merry laughter,--Dennis at his heels.


s: Bertie was first. "I've won the race," he cried;


s: But soon upon his lips the triumph died,


s: And Bertie back in fear to Dennis ran:--


s: "Oh Dennis, look! I ran against that man!


s: He shook and rattled so, and wagged his head,


s: And gave me such a fright!" "Pooh!" Dennis said,


s: "He will not hurt!" And then he made a bow:--


s: Good-bye, old soldier, we must leave you now.


s: Next afternoon, while at the Zoo', a little tale they heard


s: From India travelled, and lived in state,


s: In Paris the one, and in London the other:


s: Now Mumbo and Jumbo were sister and brother.


s: To cross the Atlantic and spread his fame.


s: But then, they're so pressing!--I can't say No!"


s: To stay with the children of Paris, for she


s: "I've a capital house, quite large and airy,


s: Close by live the Ostrich and Dromedary,


s: And we see our young friends every day," said she:


s: "Oh, where is the Zoo' that would better suit me?"


s: A Steady steed is Mumbo, if just a trifle slow;


s: Upon her back you couldn't well a-steeple-chasing go:


s: But other opportunities there are to have a ride,


s: For there's a stud of ponies, and a camel to bestride--


s: A cart that's drawn by oxen can accommodate a few,


s: And if such queer conveyances don't please you at the Zoo',


s: There are little tramway cars too, with seats on either side,


s: At Versailles, as perhaps you have heard,


s: Could so many great battles have ever occurred?


s: No wonder our children the gardens preferred:--


s: For the fountains were really so pretty a sight,


s: That Bertie declared--and I think he was right--


s: Here from morning till night they are selling and buying,


s: And from morning till night their market wares crying:


s: All around you will find there is food of each kind;


s: There are flesh, fowl, and fish here for every dish.


s: The fish-market you see on the opposite page:


s: On this stall that is nearest, the shell-fish appear;


s: But were I to begin, it would take me an age


s: To tell you the names of the fish you find here.


s: See! there's puss looking out for what she can get,


s: And that little boy who is laughing is Paul,--


s: The girl with the lobster is sister Lisette,


s: And he's watching to see if it nips her at all.


s: Madame Blaise, there, tells Nellie her mussels are good,


s: But Nellie smiles sweetly and goes on her way,


s: And I venture to doubt if she quite understood


s: All the funny French things Madame Blaise had to say.


s: Other parts of the market contain butchers meat,


s: And poultry, and fruit, and salads, and greens,


s: And here, if you want them, quite young, fresh and sweet,


s: Are the _haricóts verts_ which we know as "French beans."


s: For, from morning till night here they're selling and buying,


s: And from morning till night their market wares crying.


s: Round and round they canter slow--soon they fast and faster go;


s: Look at Louis, all in white, Gaspard, almost out of sight,


s: Rose and Mabel side by side;--Bertie watching while they ride.


s: Dennis waits till they have done,--much too big to join the fun;


s: Brother Paul, with serious air, minds his little sister Claire,


s: Thinking if _he_ had a sou, _she_ should have some pleasure too.


s: Now, with regret, they've said Good-bye to Paris bright and gay;


s: To Calais they are drawing nigh--you see them on their way.


s: And make-believe we're home in bed, and cuddle close and snug,


s: And try, until the night has passed, which can most quiet keep."


s: The happy time abroad, again in dreams is all gone o'er--


s: Again in Paris, as it seems, they watch the crowd once more.


s: And wondrous "Easter Eggs" in nests, abundant lie around,


s: And "April Fish" with golden vests and silver coats, abound!


s: Such fleeting fancies Dreamland lends to pass the time away


s: Until the railway journey ends, just at the break of day.


s: It has a beautiful old Tower, all weatherworn and brown,


s: To take our party back again across the Dover Straits.


s: We're close to the shore--just five minutes more, and the Channel


s: That our trip will, next Spring, be as pleasant a thing as our


s: Of a certain old woman who lived in a shoe,


s: And had so many children she didn't know what to do:


s: That followed the broth so weak and thin,


s: And this is the end of a tale that is true,


s: Author noted as G. Boare in the opening pages,


s: and as G. Boase at the end of the text. Left


s: And both were as black as a witch's cat,


s: He smelt the cheese, and she smelt the cheese,


s: So he ventured out, and she ventured out,


s: There were six little pigs, as I've heard people say,


s: Went out with their mother-pig walking one day,


s: The sun shone so bright, and the air was so free,


s: They might all have been happy, as happy could be.


s: And so they all were, except one little brother,


s: Who thought he was wiser, poor thing, than his mother,


s: And was always contriving some nonsense to chatter,


s: And, when she reproved him, said, "What does it matter?"


s: "I scarcely need answer" his mother would say,


s: "You yourself will discover the matter one day.


s: "Take my word, you'll repent it, or sooner or later."


s: Says he "I repent it! why, what does it matter?"


s: Just while they were talking, a mastiff passed by,


s: Enjoying the sunshine and pretty blue sky.


s: Said this bad little pig "How I long to displease him


s: I daresay, if I grunt, it will mightily tease him."


s: His mother replied, "It were better by far


s: To let him be quiet, and stay where you are,


s: For, if you affront him, he'll bite you I know."


s: "What matters it whether he bite me or no?"


s: Said the silly young thing, and he scampered away


s: And grunted at Doggy, but what did Dog say?


s: Why, he turned round, and seizing Pig's ear with his teeth


s: He tore it, and worried him nearly to death.


s: Then took himself off, and Pig ran away too.


s: And come to his mother to know what to do,


s: Who took no account of his crying and clatter.


s: He said, "Oh my ear!" she said "What does it matter?"


s: "'Tis only the bite that I bade you beware of,


s: Besides, your own ear you can surely take care of!


s: I wonder to hear you consulting another,


s: Especially me, your poor ignorant mother!"


s: All this time little Piggy was crying and screaming,


s: And over his cheeks the salt tears were streaming,


s: And sadly he grieved as he cast his eyes round,


s: And saw all his brothers with ears safe and sound.


s: You'll think after this he was prudent and wise,


s: And loved his good mother and took her advice,


s: You'll think he began his bad ways to forsake,


s: But this, I assure you, is all a mistake.


s: For still he was naughty, as naughty could be:


s: And as often was punished--then, sorry was he;


s: But as soon as he fairly was rid of the pain,


s: He forgot all about it, and did wrong again.


s: It happened one day, as the other pigs tell,


s: In the course of their walk they drew near to a well;


s: So wide and so deep, with so smooth a wall round,


s: If a pig tumbled in, he was sure to be drowned.


s: So the mother stopped two, who were running a race,


s: Saying, "Children, take care, 'tis a dangerous place!


s: Walk soberly on till you're safe past the water."


s: "Why, 'tis but a well, and pray, what does it matter?"


s: Said the obstinate animal, foolish as ever,


s: But thinking himself very cunning and clever.


s: He made up his mind that whatever befell


s: He would run on before, and jump over this well.


s: "For," says he, "cats and dogs can jump ever so high,


s: And frogs live in the water, and why should not I?


s: I suppose they'll allow I'm as wise as a frog,


s: And I'll very soon show I can jump like a dog."


s: Away scampered he to the mouth of the well,


s: Climbed up to the top, missed his footing and fell.


s: From the bottom he set up a pitiful shout,


s: "O mother, I'm in, and I cannot get out!"


s: She ran to the side when she heard his complaint,


s: And saw him in agony, struggling and faint,


s: But no help could she give. "O children!" said she;


s: "How often I told you just how it would be!"


s: "O mother! O mother!" the little pig cried,


s: "Now I really repent of my folly and pride,


s: Oh, I'm sure I shall die!" and he sank down and died,


s: While his mother and brothers wept round the well side.


s: of poems has been maintained as in the original.


s: He next saw the Wolf, a cruel and savage beast.


s: He was next shewn a Monkey, a funny fellow, but mischievous.


s: The next was a Bear, that had been taught to dance.


s: He now saw a little Robin Red-breast hopping about.


s: The next was little Jenny Wren the smallest bird in England.


s: The next was a Kite a cruel enemy to all small birds.


s: The next was a Goose, some say a silly bird but good roasted.


s: The next was a beautiful Game Cock with fine comb and gills.


s: The next was a Hen and Chickens--See, there is one on her Back.


s: The next was a very fine Newfoundland Dog.


s: The next was a nice Cat who sat purring a song.


s: _with a preface for the Garland edition by_


s: "Walter de la Mare (1873-1956), bibliography of his books for


s: SUMMARY: A collection of forty-seven poems about subjects and


s: Children's literature today is an immense and complex domain; and


s: respectively, bright and disguised versions of gothic terror and


s: _A Child's Day: a Book of Rhymes to Pictures by C. W. Cadby._


s: _Down-adown-derry: a Book of Fairy Poems._ London 1922.


s: Clark, L. _Walter de la Mare_ (_a Bodley monograph_). London


s: McCrosson, D. R. _Walter de la Mare._ New York 1966.


s: 'UNDER THE DOCK LEAVES,'                      _Frontispiece_


s: _in the possession of_ C. J. LONGMAN, Esq.


s: I looked out of window in the white moonlight,


s: But soon as I stooped in the dim moonlight


s: The sweet, sweet singing died sadly away,


s: And the light of the morning peep'd through:


s: Then instead of the gnomies there came a red robin


s: And 'twixt the coils her hands would pass,


s: I heard the Waits their sweet song sing;


s: Yet still she twisted, sleeked and tossed


s: The leaves are fallen, the swallows flown:


s: Snow lies thick where all night it fell:


s: Her trembling lakes, like foamless seas,


s: 'Neath branches that the blackbird frets;


s: And took to their brooms 'neath a louring sky,


s: Stood black in the silver as up they did fly.


s: And smote on the cages, and ended their song.


s: All turning their heads with a truculent smile,


s: Though I heard them lamenting for many a mile.


s: Their heads in a row, like stones in a flood,


s: And turned them to bushes in bright scarlet bud.


s: Their eyes black stars in all their snow,


s: Her swans swim through the starry sheen,


s: Prankt their bright eyes with trembling gleams;


s: Flooded the moorland through and through;


s: While past St Ann's grey tower they shuffled,


s: Touched crust, and bone, and groat, and lo!


s: 'Now, Jinnie, my dear, to the dwarf be off,


s: And fetch me some honey, but be sure you don't laugh,--


s: He hates little girls that are rude, are rude,


s: Jane tapped at the door of the house in the wood,


s: He eyed her so queer, 'twas as much as she could


s: His shoes down the passage came clod, clod, clod,


s: He croaked so harsh, 'twas as much as she could


s: To keep from laughing the more, the more,


s: As there, with his bushy red beard, he stood,


s: He squinted so cross, 'twas as much as she could


s: To keep the tears out of her eyes, her eyes,


s: He slammed the door, and went clod, clod, clod,


s: He squealed so fierce, 'twas as much as she could


s: To keep from cracking her sides, her sides,


s: So thick in the air, that to see 'em all fall,


s: She laughed, and laughed, till she cried, cried, cried,


s: Jane laughed and laughed till she cried.


s: 'Kah! kah!' said the dwarf, 'is it crying you're at?


s: It's the very worst thing you could do, do, do,


s: It's the very worst thing you could do.'


s: He slipped like a monkey up into a tree,


s: 'See now,' says he, cheeping, 'a blackbird I be,


s: Laugh, laugh, little Jinnie, again-gain-gain,


s: Ah me! what a strange, what a gladsome duet


s: Such shrill and such harsh voices never met yet


s: A-laughing as loud as they could-could-could,


s: Come Jinnie, come dwarf, cocksparrow, and bee,


s: Sing, sing, ye sweet cherubs, that flit in the tree;


s: La! who can draw tears from a well-well-well,


s: The grass shines windless, grey, and still,


s: Calling for ever, o'er garden and river,


s: There came a Pedlar to an evening house;


s: Sweet Lettice, from her lattice looking down,


s: His black hair dangled on his tattered gown:


s: Then lifts he up his face, with glittering eyes,--


s: 'What will you buy, sweetheart?--Here's honeycomb,


s: And mottled pippins, and sweet mulberry pies,


s: Comfits and peaches, snowy cherry bloom,


s: To keep in water for to make night sweet:


s: All that you want, sweetheart,--come, taste and eat!'


s: Ev'n with his sugared words, returned to her


s: The clear remembrance of a gentle voice:--


s: 'And O! my child, should ever a flatterer


s: Tap with his wares, and promise of all joys


s: And vain sweet pleasures that on earth may be;


s: Seal up your ears, sing some old happy song,


s: His sweets are death.' Yet, still, how she doth long


s: But just to taste, then shut the lattice tight,


s: And hide her eyes from the delicious sight!


s: 'What must I pay?' she whispered. 'Pay!' says he,


s: 'Pedlar I am who through this wood do roam,


s: For apple, peach, comfit, or honeycomb!'


s: But from her bough a drowsy squirrel cried,


s: 'Trust him not, Lettice, trust, oh trust him not!'


s: Rose softly in the silence--'Trust him not!'


s: Then cried the Pedlar in a bitter voice,


s: 'What, in the thicket, is this idle noise?'


s: A late, harsh blackbird smote him with her wings,


s: As through the glade, dark in the dim, she flew;


s: Yet still the Pedlar his old burden sings,--


s: 'What, pretty sweetheart, shall I show to you?


s: Here's orange ribands, here's a string of pearls,


s: Here's silk of buttercup and pansy glove,


s: A box of silver, scented sweet with clove:


s: Come now,' he says, with dim and lifted face,


s: 'Pluck not a hair!' a hidden rabbit cried,


s: 'With but one hair he'll steal thy heart away,


s: Then only sorrow shall thy lattice hide:


s: There was dead silence in the drowsy wood;


s: 'Here's syrup for to lull sweet maids to sleep;


s: And bells for dreams, and fairy wine and food


s: All day thy heart in happiness to keep';--


s: And now she takes the scissors on her thumb,--


s: 'O, then, no more unto my lattice come!'


s: Why all the summer doth sweet Lettice pine?


s: And, ere the wheat is ripe, why lies her gold


s: Hid 'neath fresh new-pluckt sprigs of eglantine?


s: Why all the morning hath the cuckoo tolled,


s: Sad to and fro in green and secret ways,


s: With lonely bells the burden of his days?


s: And, in the market-place, what man is this


s: Who wears a loop of gold upon his breast,


s: Stuck heartwise; and whose glassy flatteries


s: Take all the townsfolk ere they go to rest


s: Who come to buy and gossip? Doth his eye


s: His woful wares; the bird of grief doth brood


s: There where his heart should be; and far away


s: Dew lies on grave-flowers this selfsame day!


s: 'O, Mother, the wolf looks in at the door!'


s: 'Cry Shoo! now, cry Shoo! thou fierce grey wolf fly, now;


s: Haste thee away, he will fright thee no more.'


s: 'I ran, O, I ran, but the grey wolf ran faster,


s: O, Mother, I cry in the air at thy door,


s: Cry Shoo! now, cry Shoo! but his fangs were so cruel,


s: Thy son (save his hatchet) thou'lt never see more.'


s: Seemed the sweet-windowed moonlit house,


s: 'Fiend, witch, and goblin, foul and wild,


s: But when old Dame Hickory came for to see,


s: She found 'twas the voice of the false faerie.


s: 'Nay!' said Dame Hickory, 'ye false faerie!'


s: But a wolf 'twas indeed, and famished was he.


s: 'Hush!' said Dame Hickory, 'ye false faerie,


s: Ye cry like a wolf, ye do, and trouble poor me.'


s: 'Twixt their hoods they stoop and cry:--


s: With sweet wire and reed we'll haunt you;


s: 'Leave me, leave me, leave me, leave me,


s: Wild flapped their wings, as if in doom,


s: He's fetched him in, he's fetched him in,


s: Shall scare your heaths and coverts lorn,


s: There's nothing lightsome left on earth:


s: 'Nights, nights I've lain your lands to see,


s: Now here he smells, now there he smells,


s: As Lucy went a-walking one wintry morning fine,


s: A witch has been a-walking in the fields in front of me.'


s: Then stept she light and heedfully across the frozen snow,


s: And plucked a bunch of elder-twigs that near a pool did grow:


s: And, by and by, she comes to seven shadows in one place


s: She looks to left, she looks to right, and in the midst she sees


s: A little well of water clear and frozen 'neath the trees;


s: Then down beside its margent in the crusty snow she kneels,


s: And hears a magic belfry a-ringing with sweet bells.


s: But when the belfry ceased to sound yet nothing could she see,


s: Save only frozen water in the shadow of the tree.


s: But presently she lifted up her eyes along the snow,


s: And sees a witch in brindled shawl a-frisking to and fro.


s: Her shoes were buckled scarlet that capered to and fro,


s: And all her rusty locks were wreathed with twisted mistletoe;


s: But never a dint, or mark, or print, in the whiteness for to see,


s: It seemed 'twas diamonds in the air, or little flakes of frost;


s: It seemed 'twas golden smoke around, or sunbeams lightly tost;


s: It seemed an elfin music like to reeds and warblers rose:


s: And as she peeps, and as she peeps, 'tis no more one, but three,


s: And eye of bat, and downy wing of owl within the tree,


s: And the bells of that sweet belfry a-pealing as before,


s: And now it is not three she sees, and now it is not four.


s: 'O! who are ye,' sweet Lucy cries, 'that in a dreadful ring,


s: All muffled up in brindled shawls, do caper, frisk, and spring?'


s: 'A witch and witches, one and nine,' they straight to her reply,


s: And looked upon her narrowly, with green and needle eye.


s: Then Lucy sees in clouds of gold sweet cherry-trees upgrow,


s: And bushes of red roses that bloomed above the snow;


s: And as with ropes of amethyst the boughs with lamps were hung,


s: And clusters of green emeralds like fruit upon them clung.


s: 'O witches nine, ye dreadful nine, O witches seven and three!


s: Here is the snow, and there the sun, but never bloom nor bird;


s: Nor warbling flame, nor gloaming-rope of amethyst there shows,


s: Nor bunches of green emeralds, nor belfry, well, and rose,


s: Nor cloud of gold, nor cherry-tree, nor witch in brindled shawl,


s: But like a dream which vanishes, so vanished were they all.


s: When Lucy sees, and only sees, three crows upon a bough,


s: And earthly twigs, and bushes hidden white in driven snow,


s: Then 'O!' said Lucy, 'three times three is nine--I plainly see


s: Some witch has been a-walking in the fields in front of me.'


s: His hair hung black, his eyes shone blue,


s: 'What country, say, of this round earth,


s: And sings so shrill, and sings so sweet,


s: 'Though here I've sailed a score of years,


s: Ships, stars, winds, tempests, pirates past,


s: And house, and pool,--the unquiet ghosts


s: But in her grannie's house this spirit--


s: Had scourged his hide, and through and through,


s: Three dwarfs there were which lived on an isle,


s: And the names of the dwarfs were Alliolyle,


s: Their house was small and sweet of the sea,


s: Their bowls were three, and their beds were three,


s: And hear the parrot scream to the billow,


s: At dawn they fished, at noon they snared


s: Dark as green glass blown clear and thin


s: And there to the moon, like a full-blown rose,


s: And the twain they scritched in mockery,


s: So, alas! in the evening, rosy and still,


s: And they rolled and rolled to the coral marge


s: Flock where a shoe on the salt wave floats,--


s: His right hand, bared of leathern glove,


s: Time hath not dimmed nor death dismayed.


s: From out the wood I watched them shine,--


s: Lichen and moss the lone stones greened,


s: Where the small, flickering bats resort,


s: Soon will the sun behind the hills sink down;


s: Come, little Ann, your baby brother dear


s: Are all across the fields stepped on before,


s: And wait beneath the crumbling monuments,


s: Leans frail and lovely on your daddie's arm;


s: Watching her chick, 'twixt happiness and fear,


s: Full soon in the clear heavenly water, he


s: Sleeps on unwitting of't, his little breast


s: My little Ann, long since on this same quest,


s: And, weeping, cast the window a strange look,


s: The larks a-singing in the green meadows,


s: 'Twas summertide, and budding far and near


s: A little girl, and this same helpless mite


s: Is come like such another bud half-blown,


s: And yet, bless me! 'tis little changed am I;


s: May Jesu keep from tears those infant eyes,


s: I peered, with cheek on the cool leaves pressed,


s: And, Nurse, the moon doth languish there,


s: The thief should haunt with quiet tread,


s: His eyes shone faint in their own flame,


s: Fair moths that gloomed his steps before


s: The sweet night-bird in the chesnut-tree--


s: In starlight, in darkness, lonely, sweet,


s: The wild notes and the faint notes meet--


s: Time comes to keep night-watch with thee


s: White as thy night-clothes; 'O be still!'


s: Clap out some transient heart's delight,


s: (late) Printers to Her Majesty at the Edinburgh University Press


s: The Butterfly's Ball and the Grasshopper's Feasts


s: Excited the spleen of the Birds and the Beasts:


s: For their mirth and good cheer--of the Bee was the theme,


s: And the Gnat blew his horn, as he danced in the beam;


s: 'Twas humm'd by the Beetle, 'twas buzz'd by the Fly,


s: And sung by the myriads that sport through the sky.


s: The Quadrupeds listen'd with sullen displeasure,


s: But the tenants of Air were enraged beyond measure.


s: The _Peacock_ display'd his bright plumes to the Sun,


s: And, addressing his Mates, thus indignant begun:


s: "Shall we, like domestic, inelegant Fowls,


s: As unpolish'd as Geese, and as stupid as Owls,


s: Sit tamely at home, hum-drum with our Spouses,


s: While Crickets and Butterflies open their houses?


s: Shall such mean little Insects pretend to the fashion?


s: Cousin Turkey-cock, well may you be in a passion!


s: If I suffer such insolent airs to prevail,


s: May Juno pluck out all the eyes in my tail!


s: So a Fête I will give, and my taste I'll display,


s: And send out my cards for St. Valentine's Day."


s: This determined, six fleet _Carrier-Pigeons_ went out


s: To invite all the birds to Sir Argus's Rout.


s: The nest-loving _Turtle-Dove_ sent an excuse;


s: _Dame Partlet_ lay in, as did good Mrs. _Goose_.


s: The _Turkey_, poor soul! was confined to the rip;


s: For all her young brood had just fail'd with the pip.


s: The _Partridge_ was ask'd; but a Neighbour hard by


s: Had engaged a snug party to meet in a Pie:


s: And the _Wheat-ear_ declined, recollecting her Cousins,


s: Last year, to a feast were invited by dozens,--


s: But, alas! they return'd not; and she had no taste


s: To appear in a costume of vine-leaves or paste.


s: The _Woodcock_ preferr'd his lone haunt on the moor;


s: And the Traveller, _Swallow_, was still on his tour;


s: While the _Cuckoo_, who should have been one of the guests,


s: Was rambling on visits to other Birds' nests.


s: But the rest all accepted the kind invitation,


s: And much bustle it caused in the plumed creation.


s: Such ruffling of feathers, such pruning of coats,


s: Such chirping, such whistling, such clearing of throats,


s: Such polishing bills, and such oiling of pinions,


s: Had never been known in the biped dominions!


s: The _Tailor-Bird_ offer'd to make up new clothes


s: For all the young Birdlings who wish'd to be Beaux:


s: He made for the _Robin_ a doublet of red,


s: And a new velvet cap for the _Goldfinch's_ head;


s: He added a plume to the _Wren's_ golden crest,


s: And spangled with silver the _Guinea-Fowl's_ breast;


s: While the _Halcyon_ bent over the streamlet to view


s: How pretty she looked in her bodice of blue!


s: Thus adorn'd, they set off for the Peacock's abode,


s: With the guide _Indicator_, who show'd them the road:


s: From all points of the compass flock'd birds of all feather,


s: And the _Parrot_ can tell who and who were together.


s: And Don _Peroqueto_, escaped from Domingo:


s: From his high rock-built eyrie the _Eagle_ came forth,


s: And the Duchess of _Ptarmigan_ flew from the North.


s: The _Grebe_ and the _Eider-Duck_ came up by water,


s: Two kindred, arrived by the last India fleet:


s: The one, like a Nabob, in habit most splendid,


s: Where Gold with each hue of the rainbow was blended;


s: In silver and black, like a fair pensive Maid


s: Who mourns for her love, was the other array'd.


s: The _Chough_ came from Cornwall, and brought up his Wife;


s: The _Grouse_ travell'd south, from his Lairdship in Fife;


s: The _Bunting_ forsook her soft nest in the reeds;


s: And the _Widow-Bird_ came, though she still wore her weeds:


s: Sir John _Heron_, of the Lakes, strutted in a _grand pas_.


s: But no card had been sent to the pilfering _Daw_,


s: As the Peacock kept up his progenitor's quarrel,


s: Which Æsop relates, about cast-off apparel;


s: For Birds are like Men in their contests together,


s: And, in questions of right, can dispute for a feather.


s: The _Peacock_, Imperial, the pride of his race,


s: Received all his guests with an infinite grace,


s: Waved high his blue neck, and his train he display'd,


s: Embroider'd with gold, and with emeralds inlaid;


s: Then with all the gay troop to the shrubbery repair'd,


s: Where the musical birds had a concert prepared.


s: A holly-bush form'd the Orchestra, and in it


s: Sat the _Black-bird_, the _Thrush_, the _Lark_, and the _Linnet_;


s: Now escaped from his cage, and with liberty blest,


s: In a sweet mellow tone, join'd the lessons of art


s: With the accents of nature, which flow'd from his heart.


s: The _Canary_, a much-admired foreign musician,


s: Condescended to sing to the Fowls of condition;


s: While the _Nightingale_ warbled and quaver'd so fine,


s: That they all clapp'd their wings and declared it divine!


s: The _Sky-Lark_, in ecstasy, sang from a cloud,


s: And _Chanticleer_ crow'd, and the _Yaffil_ laugh'd loud.


s: The dancing began when the singing was over:


s: A _Dotterel_ first open'd the ball with the _Plover_;


s: Baron _Stork_ in a waltz was allow'd to excel,


s: With his beautiful partner, the fair _Demoiselle_;


s: And a newly-fledged _Gosling_, so fair and genteel,


s: A minuet swam with the spruce Mr. _Teal_.


s: A London-bred _Sparrow_--a pert forward Cit!


s: Danced a reel with Miss _Wagtail_ and little _Tom Tit_.


s: And the Sieur _Guillemot_ next perform'd a _pas seul_,


s: While the elderly bipeds were playing a pool.


s: From Ivy-bush tower came down _Owlet_ the Wise,


s: And Counsellor _Cross-bill_ sat by to advise.


s: Some birds past their prime, o'er whose heads it was fated


s: Should pass many St. Valentines--yet be unmated,


s: Sat by, and remark'd that the prudent and sage


s: Were quite overlook'd in this frivolous age,


s: When birds, scarce pen-feather'd, were brought to a rout,


s: Forward Chits! from the egg-shell but newly come out.


s: In their youthful days, they ne'er witness'd such frisking;


s: And how wrong in the _Greenfinch_ to flirt with the _Siskin_!


s: So thought Lady _Mackaw_, and her friend _Cockatoo_;


s: And the _Raven_ foretold that no good could ensue!


s: They censured the _Bantam_, for strutting and crowing


s: In those vile pantaloons, which he fancied look'd knowing:


s: And a want of decorum caused many demurs


s: Against the _Game Chicken_, for coming in spurs.


s: Old Alderman _Cormorant_, for supper impatient,


s: At the Eating-room door for an hour had been station'd,


s: Till a _Magpie_, at length, the banquet announcing,


s: Gave the signal, long-wish'd for, of clamoring and pouncing:


s: At the well-furnish'd board all were eager to perch,


s: But the little Miss _Creepers_ were left in the lurch.


s: Description must fail, and the pen is unable


s: To recount all the luxuries that cover'd the table.


s: Each delicate viand that taste could denote,


s: Wasps _à la sauce piquante_, and Flies _en compôte_;


s: Worms and Frogs _en friture_, for the web-footed Fowl,


s: And a barbecued Mouse was prepared for the Owl;


s: Nuts, grains, fruit, and fish, to regale every palate,


s: And groundsel and chickweed served up in a salad.


s: The _Razor-bill_ carved for the famishing group,


s: And the _Spoon-bill_ obligingly ladled the soup;


s: So they fill'd all their crops with the dainties before 'em


s: And the tables were clear'd with the utmost decorum.


s: When they gaily had caroll'd till peep of the dawn,


s: The _Lark_ gently hinted 'twas time to be gone;


s: And his clarion, so shrill, gave the company warning,


s: That _Chanticleer_ scented the gales of the morning,


s: So they chirp'd in full chorus, a friendly adieu;


s: And, with hearts beating light as the plumage that grew


s: On their merry-thought bosoms, away they all flew.


s: Then long live the _Peacock_, in splendour unmatch'd,


s: Whose Ball shall be talk'd of by Birds yet unhatch'd!


s: His praise let the _Trumpeter_ loudly proclaim,


s: And the _Goose_ lend her quill to transmit it to Fame.


s: _The Rip._ A machine used in poultry-yards, under which it is


s: usual to confine the mother-bird with the young brood, till it


s: has acquired strength to follow her. The word is derived from


s: the Saxon _Hrip_, meaning a covering, or protection, for the


s: _The Tailor-Bird._ So called from the singular manner in which


s: it constructs its nest, which is composed of two leaves, sewed


s: together with wonderful skill by the little tailor, whose bill


s: serves him for a needle, and the fine fibres of leaves furnish


s: him with a substitute for thread, by which means he attaches a


s: dead leaf to a living one, growing at the end of a branch. The


s: _The Golden-crested Wren_ is the smallest of the British Birds;


s: it takes its name from a circle of gold-coloured feathers,


s: bordered with black, forming an arch above its eyes, which it


s: has the power of raising or depressing; it is a native of every


s: part of Europe, and is also to be found in Asia and America.


s: _Halcyon_, or _Kingfisher_. Esteemed the most beautiful of our


s: native birds; but its form is clumsy, and its bill very


s: disproportionate to its size. It inhabits the banks of rivers


s: and streams, where it will sit for hours on a projecting


s: branch, watching for its prey. The ancients relate many


s: fabulous stories of this bird, as that of its laying its eggs


s: in the depth of winter, and that during the time of its


s: incubation the weather remains perfectly calm, whence the


s: _Cuculus indicator._ A bird of the Cuckoo kind, found in the


s: interior parts of Africa; it has a shrill note, which the


s: natives answer by a soft whistle; and the birds repeating the


s: note, the natives are thereby conducted to the wild Bee-hives,


s: _Cassowary._ A large singular bird found in the island of Java,


s: in Africa, and the southern parts of India. The head of this


s: bird is armed with a kind of natural helmet, extending from the


s: base of the bill to near half-way over the head.


s: _Flamingo._ A bird of the crane kind, but web-footed, whose


s: plumage is of a bright scarlet: when standing erect, it


s: measures above six feet, though its body is not larger than


s: that of a Goose; and is a native of Africa, Persia, and South


s: _Ptarmigan._ The white grouse, or white game, inhabits the


s: Highlands of Scotland and the Western Islands; it prefers the


s: coldest situations on the highest mountains, where it burrows


s: under the snow. It changes its feathers twice in the year, and


s: about the end of February puts on its summer dress of dusky


s: brown, ash, and orange-coloured feathers; which it loses in


s: winter for a plumage perfectly white, except a black line


s: between the bill and the eye. The legs and toes are warmly


s: clothed with a thick long coat of soft white feathers.


s: _The Chough._ This bird, which is about the size of the Daw,


s: has a long curved bill, sharp at the point, which, as well as


s: the legs and feet, is of a bright scarlet, contrasting


s: beautifully with its black plumage, which varies, as the light


s: falls on it, to a deep purple violet. Its general haunts are


s: the crevices of high cliffs in Devonshire and Cornwall.


s: _The Widow_, or _Widah Bird_, is a species of Bunting, a native


s: of Angola and other parts of Africa; and is remarkable for the


s: feathers of its tail. The two middle ones are about four inches


s: long, and ending in a long thread; the two next are thirteen


s: inches in length, broad, and narrowing towards the points: from


s: _Yaffil, the Woodpecker._ The name Yaffil is provincial, but is


s: so very expressive of the noise it continually makes, that I


s: have preferred it on that account. It is a beautiful bird, and


s: is sometimes called the English Parrot; the colour of its


s: plumage, green, yellow, and scarlet, giving it some resemblance


s: _The Numidian Crane_, or _Demoiselle_, from the elegance of its


s: appearance, and its singular carriage, is called the


s: Demoiselle, which means the Young Lady; for this bird walks


s: very gracefully, and sometimes skips and leaps, as though it


s: _Guillemot._ A sea-bird, of which there are several species


s: numerously spread over the northern world; from whence they


s: come towards winter to the British shores, and remain till they


s: have reared their young. It is sometimes called "the foolish


s: Guillemot," from its stupidity; for when their companions are


s: shot one after another, they have so little sense of danger,


s: that they make a small circuit, and then return and settle in


s: _Toucan._ A native of America, where it builds in the hollows


s: of trees, and sits at the entrance, ready to peck at the


s: monkeys, who often endeavour to destroy and eat the young. It


s: is about the size of a Magpie, but the head large in


s: proportion, to enable it to support its immense bill, which is


s: six inches and one-half in length, but extremely thin. It is a


s: mild inoffensive bird, and easily tamed, but cannot endure the


s: cold of our climate. The feathers of the breast are highly


s: _Cross-bill._ So called because the two mandibles cross each


s: other in different directions. They feed chiefly on the seeds


s: of fir-trees; the singular construction of their bills being


s: admirably adapted to separate the seeds of the cones. The pips


s: of apples are also a favourite food, and, to obtain them, they


s: split the apple with one stroke of their bill; they are


s: consequently found to be very injurious to orchards. It has


s: been observed that they have been more frequently seen in


s: England since the fir-tree has been more generally planted than


s: _Siskin._ A migratory bird, which is seen in the southern parts


s: of England at the time of the barley harvest, and is sometimes


s: called the Barley-bird. It has a pleasing note, and is sold as


s: a singing-bird in the London bird-shops by the name of the


s: Aberdevine. The accusation of its flirtation with the


s: Greenfinch is to be understood as pure scandal, the most prying


s: naturalists never having discovered any particular attachment


s: _Razor-bill._ A migratory sea-bird, which visits the northern


s: shores in spring, and leaves them in winter: they lay a single


s: egg on the ledges of the rocks without any nest, and on which


s: _Spoon-bill._ So called from the construction of the bill,


s: which is flat the whole length, but widens towards the end in


s: the form of a spoon or spatula; and is equally remarkable in


s: its substance, not being hard like bone, but flexible like


s: whalebone. They feed on snakes, worms, frogs, and fish, even


s: on shell-fish, which they first break with their bills.


s: _The Agami_, or _Trumpeter_. A native of America, remarkable


s: for a singular noise, resembling the instrument from which it


s: Come, take up your hats, and away let us haste


s: To the _Butterfly's_ Ball and the _Grasshopper's_ Feast:


s: The Trumpeter, _Gadfly_, has summon'd the Crew,


s: And the Revels are now only waiting for you.


s: So said little Robert, and pacing along,


s: His merry Companions came forth in a throng,


s: And on the smooth Grass, by the side of a Wood


s: Beneath a broad Oak that for ages had stood,


s: For an Evening's Amusement together repair.


s: And there came the _Beetle_, so blind and so black,


s: Who carried the _Emmet_, his Friend, on his back


s: And there was the _Gnat_, and the _Dragon-fly_ too,


s: With all their Relations, Green, Orange, and Blue.


s: And there came the _Moth_, with his plumage of down,


s: Who with him the _Wasp_, his Companion, did bring,


s: But they promised that Evening to lay by their Sting.


s: And the sly little _Dormouse_ crept out of his hole,


s: And brought to the Feast his blind Brother, the _Mole_.


s: And the _Snail_, with his Horns peeping out of his Shell,


s: Came from a great distance, the Length of an Ell.


s: A Mushroom their Table, and on it was laid


s: A Water-dock Leaf, which a Table-cloth made.


s: The Viands were various, to each of their taste,


s: And the _Bee_ brought her Honey to crown the Repast.


s: Then close on his haunches, so solemn and wise,


s: The _Frog_ from a corner look'd up to the Skies;


s: And the _Squirrel_, well pleased such diversions to see,


s: Mounted high over-head, and look'd down from a Tree.


s: Then out came the _Spider_, with finger so fine,


s: To show his dexterity on the tight line.


s: From one branch to another his Cobwebs he slung,


s: But just in the middle,--Oh! shocking to tell,


s: From his rope in an instant poor Harlequin fell.


s: Yet he touch'd not the ground, but with talons outspread


s: Hung suspended in air, at the end of a thread.


s: Then the _Grasshopper_ came with a jerk and a spring;


s: Very long was his Leg, though but short was his Wing:


s: He took but three leaps, and was soon out of sight,


s: Then chirp'd his own praises the rest of the night.


s: With step so majestic the _Snail_ did advance,


s: And promised the Gazers a Minuet to dance.


s: But they all laugh'd so loud that he pull'd in his head,


s: And went in his own little chamber to bed.


s: Then, as Evening gave way to the Shadows of Night,


s: Their Watchman, the _Glowworm_, came out with a light.


s: Then Home let us hasten, while yet we can see,


s: For no watchman is waiting for you and for me.


s: So said little Robert, and pacing along,


s: His merry Companions return'd in a throng.


s: Some years are elapsed, and some worthies are gone,


s: Since _Peacocks_ and _Butterflies_ mimick'd the _ton_,


s: And gave, in a manner becoming their station,


s: Their _fêtes_ and their _balls_ to their fellow-creation.


s: Then _Roscoe_ and _Dorset_, high-talented elves,


s: Amused other people and solaced themselves,


s: In describing the revels, the gibes, and the jokes,


s: Of the creatures of earth, and the feathery folks;


s: Of their fashion and fancy, the ebbs and the flows,


s: And the beauty and wit of their belles and their beaux.


s: But the world has spun round like a peg top since then,


s: And imparted more knowledge to brutes and to men;


s: New lights and perceptions old customs explode,


s: And what is done now, must be done _à-la-mode_.


s: Old fashions are fled, and what more can we say


s: Than that _Dorset_ and _Roscoe_ might do for that day,


s: But that Poets must deck in more dignified rhymes


s: The wonderful deeds of these wonderful times?


s: That _Augusta_ may spread her renown and her glory,


s: Her famed _Fancy Fairs_ must be studded in story,


s: Of the _Gardens_ that bloom on the south of the Thames.


s: Old _Dryden_ the bard was at best but a gander,


s: In singing the _Feast_ of the great _Alexander_;


s: For what breast with the fumes of a banquet is fired


s: Two thousand years after the guests have retired?


s: Our happier bard takes the season that suits,


s: At the spur of the moment he puts on his boots,


s: All hot for _Parnassus_, and cries in a hurry,


s: "Prepare me my _Pegasus_! '_Saddle white Surrey!_'"


s: It is clear that he feels what his numbers prolong,


s: That he warms with his subject, and soars in his song.


s: But whether his lot be unhonour'd and low,


s: Or the wreath of the _Laureat_ encircles his brow,


s: With the world to admire him, mysterious elf!


s: Is a secret of state that he keeps to himself.


s: The strains of his genius, his force and his fire;


s: He burns with impatience the scene to display:


s: Hark away, to the _Gardens of Taste_! Hark away!


s: The sun, as he rose, was received with a cheer,


s: From the Herald at Arms, the renown'd _Chanticleer_,


s: Who proclaim'd, with a feeling of pride in his breast,


s: That the _Gardens of Surrey_ were fairest and best.


s: Then at once the shrill tidings were borne on the air,


s: That the dawn had arrived of the famed _Fancy Fair_,


s: And that all that was lovely, and beauteous, and bright,


s: Was summon'd to honour that day of delight.


s: The sunbeam was clear on that lovely retreat;


s: The breath of the morning was balmy and sweet;


s: Fair _flowrets_, that vied with the rainbow, were seen,


s: And _trees_ in their livery of liveliest green.


s: The voice of rejoicing, from children of earth,


s: Was so mingled with cheerfulness, music, and mirth,


s: That the mind, and the eye, and the ear, and the heart


s: Were saluted with pleasure from every part.


s: A thousand gay faces appear'd in the throng,


s: And crowds of fair creatures came trooping along.


s: Till the place, all enliven'd with joy and surprise,


s: Was lit up with sunbeams and Beauty's bright eyes.


s: The groups of all ages were gather'd so well,


s: That they threw o'er the poet and painter a spell,


s: And the flashes of fancy, wit, feeling, and fire,


s: Resistless compell'd them to pause and admire.


s: Much pains had been taken to add to the grace,


s: And preserve from disorder the pride of the place;


s: To keep the fair flowrets from wandering away,


s: As well as the things that were fairer than they,


s: For placards were posted near every spot,


s: You may stand to "_admire_" me, "_but gather me not_."


s: The _Beasts_ and the _Birds_ were so fresh and so fair,


s: That they call'd forth the wonder of all who came there,


s: And the _Boa Constrictors_ so slimy and gay,


s: That they seem'd to have painted themselves for the day.


s: The _Green-bonnet Monkey_, with speckles bespread,


s: Was proud of the verdigris tuft on his head;


s: For it look'd, as he leap'd in his frolic and joy,


s: Like the top of the turban of _Rammohun Roy_.


s: Dame _Tortoise_ roam'd over the green and beyond,


s: For she pass'd on her pilgrimage right to the pond.


s: As she gazed on the _Crocodile_ softly she sigh'd,


s: Though she thought that his mouth was a _little_ too wide.


s: The _Zebra_ look'd sprightly, as every one saw,


s: And the _African Sheep_ and white-footed _Nyl Ghau_;


s: And that leaper of leapers, the strange _Kangaroo_,


s: That is biped and triped and quadruped too,


s: Who out-juggles the _Juggler_, by hill and by dale;


s: For he makes, when he pleases, a leg of his tail.


s: With a soft, silky, aspect, demure and profound,


s: A _tabby Cat_ wander'd the _Gardens_ around,


s: And purr'd her applause with a quiet delight,


s: As she gazed half-entranced on the heart-cheering sight.


s: Among the rare wonders that caught every eye,


s: Demanding a glance from the gay passer-by,


s: Was the _Alpaca_, _Zebu_ of Indian race,


s: And the _Camel_, brought up in that beautiful place.


s: A dome in the centre, deservedly praised,


s: Transparent as crystal, was artfully raised,


s: Where African _Lions_, and _Tigers_ untamed,


s: And _Sloths_ and _Hyænas_, for savageness famed,


s: Securely might meet in the very same pen.


s: The crowd still increased on that magical ground,


s: And thousands and thousands came trooping around.


s: The _haut ton_ and _beau monde_ paced about debonair,


s: Tall and short, _enbonpoint_, slender, sunburnt, and fair,


s: While Hatred and Anger and Care fled away,


s: And light hearts and bright eyes were the charm of the day.


s: Then the painted _balloon_ in its glory was bright,


s: And it mounted on high till it sail'd out of sight.


s: The _Juggler_, with tricks and illusions came forth,


s: And the _Russians_ with _musical horns_ from the North,


s: Transporting enough to make _Orpheus_ mute:


s: As loud as the trumpet, as soft as the lute,


s: They fill'd every bosom, absorbing them quite,


s: And the _reeds_ seem'd to burden the air with delight.


s: Such strains have rung round me in seasons gone by,


s: When escaped from the cloister I mused with a sigh,


s: And listed awhile to the balm-shedding breeze,


s: As it fitfully swept through the sedge and the trees,


s: And plaintively whisper'd with musical power,


s: O'er the "soft-flowing Avon," at evening hour.


s: And now the fair parties, with Mirth for their guide,


s: And light-hearted Laughter, a moment divide,


s: And gaze on the _Eagles_, the _old ruin'd wall_,


s: The _Boat-house_, the _Temple_, the _Hermitage_, all;


s: Reproved, when their pleasure too freely they quaff,


s: By that _memento mori_, the Afric _Giraffe_.


s: Some visit the laughing-bird, called _Cockatoo_,


s: Who drops them a courtesy, and cries "How d' ye do?"


s: Takes his tea, Cayenne pepper, and cold apple-pie.


s: Some gaze on the _Cygnets_ that glide like a dream,


s: And bend down to admire their fair forms in the stream;


s: Some laugh at their fancies, or muse on a flower,


s: And all are delighted, so happy the hour.


s: Wouldst thou gaze with emotions far purer than mirth


s: On one of the fairest creations of earth,


s: Go at even, and breathe the pure breath of the breeze,


s: From the _seat_ by the _Lake_, 'neath those wild _Willow-trees_.


s: New pleasures succeeded; the spell was of power


s: That Variety threw o'er the varying hour,


s: And a change of enjoyment was found by the train


s: The _dancing_ commenced, and the Fair, beyond praise,


s: As light as the gossamer, tripp'd through the maze.


s: What warm salutations! what laughing aloud!


s: What sounds of enjoyment were heard in the crowd!


s: But who were the worthies who moved with a grace


s: And demeanour, as though they belong'd to the place?


s: Prince Eglantine _Eagle_, with lightning-like glare,


s: Threw a glance all around him to see who was there;


s: To the _Pelican_ Princesses bent his head low,


s: As they proudly pass'd by with their bosoms of snow.


s: Duke _Emu_, too, gazed on the heart-cheering sight,


s: And Earl Hildebrand _Harpy_, so famous in fight;


s: While the figure that walk'd so erect, I suppose,


s: Was Sir Peregrine _Penguin_,--I judge by his nose.


s: Viscount _Stork_, as he strutted about, gave a beck


s: To Earl _Vulture_, who wears no cravat round his neck;


s: And the _Bishop_ was there, though he stood rather back,


s: Array'd in his robes of red, orange, and black,


s: Sir Archibald _Ostrich_ moved on rather chary,


s: And lean'd on his cousin the Count _Cassowary_,


s: Discoursing of _Java_, and far distant lands,


s: And African _Deserts_, and hot burning sands.


s: Old warrior _Flamingo_ came limping along,


s: And with Commodore _Cormorant_ join'd in the throng,


s: Profoundly debating, with Major _Macaw_,


s: Earl _Heron_ walk'd stately with Caroline _Crane_,


s: And Field-marshal _Falcon_, of valour so vain;


s: While Captain _Crown Pigeon_, so odd in his tread,


s: Shook the quaking-grass tuft on his fanciful head.


s: Lord _Peacock_, from _Asia_, came dress'd very fine--


s: His musical taste ne'er accorded with mine;


s: And the learn'd Baron _Buzzard_, who gravely decided,


s: That game, when once caught, should be fairly divided.


s: The grenadier, Captain _Curassow_, was drest


s: In his helmet, and held up his head with the best;


s: While Fatima _Pheasant_, from China, display'd


s: Her Pekin pelisse of bright silver brocade.


s: Count _Turkey_ expanded the finery that bound him,


s: And gabbled high Dutch to the people around him.


s: His Honour the _Hawk_ loved a lark and a race,


s: So he hover'd about near the courts of the place.


s: At the edge of the water, and hard by the sluice,


s: _Tête-à-tête_ Doctor _Drake_ sat with old Gammer _Goose_.


s: And Sir Christopher _Crow_ wore a coat on his back,


s: Of a true Day and Martin-like polish of black.


s: Mother _Magpie_ and Priscilla _Parrot_, in spite,


s: Could talk without ceasing from morning to night;


s: Spread abroad _Entre nous_ and _On dits_ by the score,


s: All the news they had heard, and a hundred times more.


s: A multitude muster'd, escaped from the plains,


s: Of sight-loving lasses and holiday swains:


s: Bob _Bantam_ push'd forward and strutted before;


s: Will _Woodpecker_ modestly tapp'd at the door;


s: Poor _Robin_, the rustic, a countrified clown,


s: As he blush'd, look'd too simple by half for the town,


s: There were scores in brown mantles, black, yellow, or green,


s: From the villages round, and among them were seen,


s: Luke _Linnet_, Sam _Swallow_, Mat _Martin_, and then,


s: But however select the fair party may be,


s: Where beauty and fashion preside, we shall see


s: Some characters doubtful that all should beware,


s: And it can't be denied that a few such were there.


s: Those cut-throats the _Sparrows_, that robber the _Daw_,


s: Who was pluck'd for his open contempt of the law;


s: The pilferer _Cuckoo_, whom all must despise,


s: And the chattering _Jay_, who tells nothing but lies;


s: While the green-mantled, light-hearted _Love-birds_, 'tis said,


s: Had been sipping too much, for their noses were red.


s: How often it is, when the sun is most bright,


s: That a dark cloud approaches, obscuring his light!


s: Alas! 'tis the same with all earthly affairs,


s: And pleasure gives place to a dark crowd of cares.


s: The _Trees_ were all lively, the _Beasts_ were content,


s: And the beautiful _Birds_ on their pleasure were bent,


s: Nothing doubting the multitude, struck with amaze,


s: Came to gaze on their beauty and speak in their praise


s: When they saw that the crowd by degrees had retired,


s: And that they left alone were no longer admired;


s: They gazed on the _Booths_ that were aptly design'd


s: To display the fair merchandize art had combined;


s: They look'd on the spot in wrath, spleen, and despair,


s: _Rank_, _Beauty_, _Taste_, _Fashion_, and _Fancy_ were there,


s: And the multitudes round such attractions preferr'd


s: To a gambolling _beast_ or a chattering _bird_.


s: Now Envy first enter'd the fair feather'd race,


s: And invective and dissonance rung round the place;


s: Their pleasure, their pride, and contentment were o'er,


s: And Discord presided where Peace was before.


s: In the midst of the hubbub and riot around,


s: The _Trees_ were absorb'd in a silence profound,


s: Till the busy _Dwarf Medlar_ began to explain


s: His rooted dislike to the booth-loving train.


s: He branch'd out in florid descriptions to show


s: That they all ought to stand on their stumps in a row


s: In defence of their rights, now that _underlings_ drew


s: That applause and renown which had long been their due.


s: Then the _Oak_ raised his head, rather hoary with age,


s: And shook his broad arms in the air in a rage,


s: And exhorted them all with a feeling of pride,


s: To maintain their ground firmly, whate'er might betide.


s: The _Giant Elm_ follow'd and proudly look'd down


s: On the pitiful plots of their foes with a frown.


s: The _Ash_, pale with anger, derided "the crew,"


s: And the smooth-temper'd _Purple Beech_ look'd rather blue.


s: The _Chesnut_ grew heated, and roasted them well;


s: And bitter the taunts of the _Almond-tree_ fell.


s: The _Apple_ and _Pear_ both maintain'd, in their spleen,


s: That the fruit of their folly would shortly be seen.


s: The _Laburnum_, the _Lime_, and the _Beech_ seem'd afraid,


s: But the _Hawthorn_ was pointed in all that she said,


s: And the threats of the _Elder_ were heard to abound--


s: Like pellets from popguns they rattled around.


s: Discontented and moody the _Drooping Larch_ lower'd,


s: The _Crab_ knit his brows, for his temper was sour'd;


s: While the _Birch_-tree declared that the ill-fated elves,


s: Their opponents, were making a rod for themselves.


s: With wrath and vexation the _Maple_ ran o'er;


s: The _Aspen_-tree trembled, the _Willow_ wept sore;


s: The _Tulip_-tree blush'd, and the _Sumach_-tree sigh'd,


s: And the _Dyer's Oak_ thought it a stain on their pride.


s: The _Fir_ stood erect, for he seem'd to opine


s: That their sun for a very brief season would shine;


s: While the well-meaning _Walnut_, foreboding their fall,


s: Crack'd a joke, for he cared not a fig for them all.


s: The _Poplar_ drew up with a feeling of scorn,


s: And the _Cypress_ looked sad, and the _Yew_ was forlorn.


s: The _Plane_ smoothly spoke, and the _Hazel_ the same,


s: But the _Scarlet Oak_ redden'd with anger and shame.


s: At last they resolved, to blot out the disgrace,


s: To stand fast by each other adorning the place;


s: No longer their loss of applause to bemoan,


s: But to come out next spring with a Fair of their own.


s: While the war-whoop was raised by the _Birds_ and the _Trees_,


s: The _Beasts_ were impatient to blow up a breeze.


s: And furiously lash'd both his sides with his tail.


s: As he stalk'd through his den, his wild eyes glared around,


s: And his roar seem'd to come from far under the ground.


s: His anger, disdain, and despair wanted scope,


s: So he wish'd himself back at the Cape of Good Hope.


s: The _Tiger_ extended, in uttering a roar,


s: A mouth that you might have mistook for the door;


s: But in such a dilemma, I warn you, beware


s: How you enter in haste such a dark thoroughfare;


s: For all who have pass'd through the passage they say,


s: Have terribly painted their coats by the way.


s: Poor _Bruin_ declared it was unbearable quite,


s: And was in a brown study till day turn'd to night;


s: The _Axis_ turn'd round in his rage, and just then


s: The _Sloth_ look'd as black as the ink in my pen.


s: The soft, silky, self-colour'd _Puma_ felt pain,


s: Pale as ashes with anger he could not restrain;


s: The _Llama_ indignantly felt the disgrace,


s: In fury the _Mastiff_ bark'd loud for relief;


s: The poor patient _Camel_ was laden with grief;


s: The _Antelope_ wisely eloped from the fray,


s: But the _Springbok_ was booked for the rest of the day.


s: The wrath of the _Leopard_ then rose on the gale,


s: And broke out in dark spots from his head to his tail;


s: The _Civet Cat_ mew'd, and did nothing but fret,


s: And the stripes of the _Zebra_ were blacker than jet;


s: The _Opossum_ was posed, and looked wondrously sage,


s: And the _Red Coati Mondi_ turned sallow with rage;


s: The _Hyæna_ declared in a quarrelsome mood,


s: He would instantly break through his den--if he could:


s: And the _Moose Deer_ in ire would have bit his lip through,


s: The Schoolmaster _Porcupine_ rang, too, the chimes,--


s: He declar'd that he'd send an address to "_the Times_;"


s: Nay, write all his quills to their stumps, ere he'd stand


s: As a laughing-stock thus to the rest of the land.


s: When the _Fair_ was concluded, and all the gay throng


s: Had abandon'd the feast and the dance and the song,


s: For "Home," after every enjoyment, "is Home!"


s: The _Trees_ toss'd their heads 'tween the earth and the heavens,


s: And the _Birds_ and the _Beasts_ were at sixes and sevens.


s: But amid the confusion, the hubbub, and din,


s: All remember'd the proverb, "_They laugh most who win!_"


s: This was certainly true at the famed _Fancy Fair_;


s: _Mr. Cross_ was, they say, the most pleasant man there.


s: Let us hope, then, his genius was happily led


s: To allay the rude storm that hung over his head;--


s: That the future his spirited plans will repay


s: Through many a gladsome and prosperous day;


s: Make true the old saw, "_All is well that well ends_,"


s: And _Bipeds_ and _Quadrupeds_ once more be friends.


s: The skeleton of the Giraffe was exhibited in the Gardens on


s: The late spirited proprietor of the Surrey Zoological Gardens.


s: PREFACE                                                        ii


s: LIFE OF KEATS                                                   v


s: NOTES ON ODE ['Bards of Passion and of Mirth']


s: enthusiastic exposition of these masterpieces of Greek sculpture.


s: _On first looking into Chapman's Homer._


s: Much have I travelled in the realms of gold,


s: And many goodly states and kingdoms seen;


s: That deep-brow'd Homer ruled as his demesne;


s: Till I heard Chapman speak out loud and bold:


s: Then felt I like some watcher of the skies


s: Or like stout Cortez when with eagle eyes


s: He stared at the Pacific--and all his men


s: Look'd at each other with a wild surmise--


s: Of the work upon which he was now engaged, the narrative-poem of


s: In April, 1818, _Endymion_ was finished. Keats was by no means


s: restlessness and torment rather than peace and comfort.


s: additions, the alterations are mostly for the worse.


s: Neither this nor the re-cast of _Hyperion_ was finished when, in


s: Bright star! would I were steadfast as thou art--


s: Not in lone splendour hung aloft the night,


s: Like Nature's patient, sleepless Eremite,


s: The moving waters at their priest-like task


s: Of pure ablution round earth's human shores,


s: Of snow upon the mountains and the moors--


s: No--yet still steadfast, still unchangeable,


s: Pillow'd upon my fair love's ripening breast,


s: To feel for ever its soft fall and swell,


s: Still, still to hear her tender taken breath,


s: And so live ever--or else swoon to death.


s: Drove Nymph and Satyr from the prosperous woods,


s: Sceptre, and mantle, clasp'd with dewy gem,


s: From rushes green, and brakes, and cowslip'd lawns,


s: His golden throne, bent warm on amorous theft:


s: On this side of Jove's clouds, to escape the sight


s: For somewhere in that sacred island dwelt


s: A nymph, to whom all hoofed Satyrs knelt;


s: At whose white feet the languid Tritons poured


s: Pearls, while on land they wither'd and adored.


s: Fast by the springs where she to bathe was wont,


s: And in those meads where sometime she might haunt,


s: Were strewn rich gifts, unknown to any Muse,


s: Though Fancy's casket were unlock'd to choose.


s: Ah, what a world of love was at her feet!


s: Burnt from his winged heels to either ear,


s: That from a whiteness, as the lily clear,


s: Blush'd into roses 'mid his golden hair,


s: Fallen in jealous curls about his shoulders bare.


s: From vale to vale, from wood to wood, he flew,


s: Breathing upon the flowers his passion new,


s: And wound with many a river to its head,


s: To find where this sweet nymph prepar'd her secret bed:


s: In vain; the sweet nymph might nowhere be found,


s: Of the Wood-Gods, and even the very trees.


s: There as he stood, he heard a mournful voice,


s: Such as once heard, in gentle heart, destroys


s: All pain but pity: thus the lone voice spake:


s: "When from this wreathed tomb shall I awake!


s: And love, and pleasure, and the ruddy strife


s: Round bush and tree, soft-brushing, in his speed,


s: The taller grasses and full-flowering weed,


s: Bright, and cirque-couchant in a dusky brake.


s: She was a gordian shape of dazzling hue,


s: Vermilion-spotted, golden, green, and blue;


s: Striped like a zebra, freckled like a pard,


s: Eyed like a peacock, and all crimson barr'd;


s: And full of silver moons, that, as she breathed,


s: Dissolv'd, or brighter shone, or interwreathed


s: Their lustres with the gloomier tapestries--


s: So rainbow-sided, touch'd with miseries,


s: She seem'd, at once, some penanced lady elf,


s: Some demon's mistress, or the demon's self.


s: Sprinkled with stars, like Ariadne's tiar:


s: Her head was serpent, but ah, bitter-sweet!


s: She had a woman's mouth with all its pearls complete:


s: And for her eyes: what could such eyes do there


s: But weep, and weep, that they were born so fair?


s: As Proserpine still weeps for her Sicilian air.


s: Her throat was serpent, but the words she spake


s: Came, as through bubbling honey, for Love's sake,


s: And thus; while Hermes on his pinions lay,


s: Like a stoop'd falcon ere he takes his prey.


s: "Fair Hermes, crown'd with feathers, fluttering light,


s: I had a splendid dream of thee last night:


s: I saw thee sitting, on a throne of gold,


s: The only sad one; for thou didst not hear


s: The soft, lute-finger'd Muses chaunting clear,


s: Deaf to his throbbing throat's long, long melodious moan.


s: I dreamt I saw thee, robed in purple flakes,


s: Break amorous through the clouds, as morning breaks,


s: Strike for the Cretan isle; and here thou art!


s: Too gentle Hermes, hast thou found the maid?"


s: "Thou smooth-lipp'd serpent, surely high inspired!


s: Thou beauteous wreath, with melancholy eyes,


s: Possess whatever bliss thou canst devise,


s: Telling me only where my nymph is fled,--


s: Where she doth breathe!" "Bright planet, thou hast said,"


s: Return'd the snake, "but seal with oaths, fair God!"


s: "I swear," said Hermes, "by my serpent rod,


s: And by thine eyes, and by thy starry crown!"


s: Light flew his earnest words, among the blossoms blown.


s: Then thus again the brilliance feminine:


s: "Too frail of heart! for this lost nymph of thine,


s: About these thornless wilds; her pleasant days


s: She tastes unseen; unseen her nimble feet


s: Leave traces in the grass and flowers sweet;


s: From weary tendrils, and bow'd branches green,


s: She plucks the fruit unseen, she bathes unseen:


s: Of Satyrs, Fauns, and blear'd Silenus' sighs.


s: I took compassion on her, bade her steep


s: Her hair in weird syrops, that would keep


s: Thou shalt behold her, Hermes, thou alone,


s: If thou wilt, as thou swearest, grant my boon!"


s: An oath, and through the serpent's ears it ran


s: Blush'd a live damask, and swift-lisping said,


s: A woman's shape, and charming as before.


s: Give me my woman's form, and place me where he is.


s: Stoop, Hermes, let me breathe upon thy brow,


s: And thou shalt see thy sweet nymph even now."


s: The God on half-shut feathers sank serene,


s: She breath'd upon his eyes, and swift was seen


s: Of both the guarded nymph near-smiling on the green.


s: Real are the dreams of Gods, and smoothly pass


s: Their pleasures in a long immortal dream.


s: One warm, flush'd moment, hovering, it might seem


s: Dash'd by the wood-nymph's beauty, so he burn'd;


s: Then, lighting on the printless verdure, turn'd


s: To the swoon'd serpent, and with languid arm,


s: Delicate, put to proof the lythe Caducean charm.


s: So done, upon the nymph his eyes he bent


s: And towards her stept: she, like a moon in wane,


s: Faded before him, cower'd, nor could restrain


s: Her fearful sobs, self-folding like a flower


s: That faints into itself at evening hour:


s: She felt the warmth, her eyelids open'd bland,


s: And, like new flowers at morning song of bees,


s: Bloom'd, and gave up her honey to the lees.


s: Into the green-recessed woods they flew;


s: Nor grew they pale, as mortal lovers do.


s: To change; her elfin blood in madness ran,


s: Her mouth foam'd, and the grass, therewith besprent,


s: Her eyes in torture fix'd, and anguish drear,


s: Hot, glaz'd, and wide, with lid-lashes all sear,


s: Flash'd phosphor and sharp sparks, without one cooling tear.


s: The colours all inflam'd throughout her train,


s: She writh'd about, convuls'd with scarlet pain:


s: Spoilt all her silver mail, and golden brede;


s: Made gloom of all her frecklings, streaks and bars,


s: Eclips'd her crescents, and lick'd up her stars:


s: So that, in moments few, she was undrest


s: Of all her sapphires, greens, and amethyst,


s: And rubious-argent: of all these bereft,


s: Nothing but pain and ugliness were left.


s: Still shone her crown; that vanish'd, also she


s: And in the air, her new voice luting soft,


s: Cried, "Lycius! gentle Lycius!"--Borne aloft


s: With the bright mists about the mountains hoar


s: These words dissolv'd: Crete's forests heard no more.


s: She fled into that valley they pass o'er


s: Who go to Corinth from Cenchreas' shore;


s: And rested at the foot of those wild hills,


s: And of that other ridge whose barren back


s: Stretches, with all its mist and cloudy rack,


s: South-westward to Cleone. There she stood


s: About a young bird's flutter from a wood,


s: Fair, on a sloping green of mossy tread,


s: To see herself escap'd from so sore ills,


s: While her robes flaunted with the daffodils.


s: Or sigh'd, or blush'd, or on spring-flowered lea


s: Spread a green kirtle to the minstrelsy:


s: Of love deep learned to the red heart's core:


s: Not one hour old, yet of sciential brain


s: To unperplex bliss from its neighbour pain;


s: Define their pettish limits, and estrange


s: Their points of contact, and swift counterchange;


s: Intrigue with the specious chaos, and dispart


s: As though in Cupid's college she had spent


s: Sweet days a lovely graduate, still unshent,


s: And kept his rosy terms in idle languishment.


s: But first 'tis fit to tell how she could muse


s: And dream, when in the serpent prison-house,


s: Of all she list, strange or magnificent:


s: How, ever, where she will'd, her spirit went;


s: Down through tress-lifting waves the Nereids fair


s: Wind into Thetis' bower by many a pearly stair;


s: Or where God Bacchus drains his cups divine,


s: Stretch'd out, at ease, beneath a glutinous pine;


s: Mulciber's columns gleam in far piazzian line.


s: And sometimes into cities she would send


s: Her dream, with feast and rioting to blend;


s: And once, while among mortals dreaming thus,


s: Charioting foremost in the envious race,


s: Like a young Jove with calm uneager face,


s: Now on the moth-time of that evening dim


s: He would return that way, as well she knew,


s: To Corinth from the shore; for freshly blew


s: The eastern soft wind, and his galley now


s: Grated the quaystones with her brazen prow


s: Fresh anchor'd; whither he had been awhile


s: To sacrifice to Jove, whose temple there


s: Waits with high marble doors for blood and incense rare.


s: Jove heard his vows, and better'd his desire;


s: For by some freakful chance he made retire


s: From his companions, and set forth to walk,


s: Perhaps grown wearied of their Corinth talk:


s: Thoughtless at first, but ere eve's star appeared


s: His phantasy was lost, where reason fades,


s: In the calm'd twilight of Platonic shades.


s: Lamia beheld him coming, near, more near--


s: Close to her passing, in indifference drear,


s: His silent sandals swept the mossy green;


s: So neighbour'd to him, and yet so unseen


s: She stood: he pass'd, shut up in mysteries,


s: His mind wrapp'd like his mantle, while her eyes


s: Follow'd his steps, and her neck regal white


s: Turn'd--syllabling thus, "Ah, Lycius bright,


s: And will you leave me on the hills alone?


s: Lycius, look back! and be some pity shown."


s: For so delicious were the words she sung,


s: It seem'd he had lov'd them a whole summer long:


s: And soon his eyes had drunk her beauty up,


s: And still the cup was full,--while he, afraid


s: Lest she should vanish ere his lip had paid


s: Her soft look growing coy, she saw his chain so sure:


s: "Leave thee alone! Look back! Ah, Goddess, see


s: Whether my eyes can ever turn from thee!


s: Stay! though a Naiad of the rivers, stay!


s: To thy far wishes will thy streams obey:


s: Stay! though the greenest woods be thy domain,


s: Alone they can drink up the morning rain:


s: Of thine harmonious sisters keep in tune


s: Thy spheres, and as thy silver proxy shine?


s: So sweetly to these ravish'd ears of mine


s: Came thy sweet greeting, that if thou shouldst fade


s: For pity do not melt!"--"If I should stay,"


s: Said Lamia, "here, upon this floor of clay,


s: And pain my steps upon these flowers too rough,


s: What canst thou say or do of charm enough


s: To dull the nice remembrance of my home?


s: Thou canst not ask me with thee here to roam


s: Over these hills and vales, where no joy is,--


s: Thou art a scholar, Lycius, and must know


s: In human climes, and live: Alas! poor youth,


s: What taste of purer air hast thou to soothe


s: And by mysterious sleights a hundred thirsts appease?


s: Tiptoe with white arms spread. He, sick to lose


s: The amorous promise of her lone complain,


s: Swoon'd, murmuring of love, and pale with pain.


s: Of sorrow for her tender favourite's woe,


s: But rather, if her eyes could brighter be,


s: Put her new lips to his, and gave afresh


s: The life she had so tangled in her mesh:


s: Happy in beauty, life, and love, and every thing,


s: A song of love, too sweet for earthly lyres,


s: While, like held breath, the stars drew in their panting


s: And then she whisper'd in such trembling tone,


s: For the first time through many anguish'd days,


s: Use other speech than looks; bidding him raise


s: His drooping head, and clear his soul of doubt,


s: Than throbbing blood, and that the self-same pains


s: Inhabited her frail-strung heart as his.


s: And next she wonder'd how his eyes could miss


s: Her face so long in Corinth, where, she said,


s: She dwelt but half retir'd, and there had led


s: Days happy as the gold coin could invent


s: Till she saw him, as once she pass'd him by,


s: Where 'gainst a column he leant thoughtfully


s: At Venus' temple porch, 'mid baskets heap'd


s: Of amorous herbs and flowers, newly reap'd


s: Late on that eve, as 'twas the night before


s: The Adonian feast; whereof she saw no more,


s: But wept alone those days, for why should she adore?


s: To see her still, and singing so sweet lays;


s: To hear her whisper woman's lore so well;


s: To unperplex'd delight and pleasure known.


s: Let the mad poets say whate'er they please


s: Of the sweets of Fairies, Peris, Goddesses,


s: There is not such a treat among them all,


s: Haunters of cavern, lake, and waterfall,


s: From Pyrrha's pebbles or old Adam's seed.


s: Thus gentle Lamia judg'd, and judg'd aright,


s: That Lycius could not love in half a fright,


s: So threw the goddess off, and won his heart


s: More pleasantly by playing woman's part,


s: With no more awe than what her beauty gave,


s: That, while it smote, still guaranteed to save.


s: And last, pointing to Corinth, ask'd her sweet,


s: If 'twas too far that night for her soft feet.


s: The way was short, for Lamia's eagerness


s: Made, by a spell, the triple league decrease


s: They pass'd the city gates, he knew not how,


s: So noiseless, and he never thought to know.


s: And all her populous streets and temples lewd,


s: Mutter'd, like tempest in the distance brew'd,


s: To the wide-spreaded night above her towers.


s: Men, women, rich and poor, in the cool hours,


s: Shuffled their sandals o'er the pavement white,


s: Companion'd or alone; while many a light


s: Flared, here and there, from wealthy festivals,


s: And threw their moving shadows on the walls,


s: Or found them cluster'd in the corniced shade


s: Of some arch'd temple door, or dusky colonnade.


s: Muffling his face, of greeting friends in fear,


s: Her fingers he press'd hard, as one came near


s: With curl'd gray beard, sharp eyes, and smooth bald crown,


s: Slow-stepp'd, and robed in philosophic gown:


s: Lycius shrank closer, as they met and past,