So faying, with extended wings;
Lightly upon the wave she springs;
Her bofom fwells, fhe fpreads her plumes,
And the fwan's ftately creft affumes.
Contempt and mockery enfu'd,
And bursts of laughter fhook the flood.
A fwan, fuperior to the reft,
Sprung forth, and thus the fool addreft:
Conceited thing, elate with pride!
Thy affectation all deride:
Thefe airs thy aukwardness impart,
And fhew thee plainly as thou art.
Among thy equals of the flock
'Thou hadft efcap'd the public mock,
And as thy parts to good conduce,
Been deem'd an honest hobbling goofe.
Learn hence to study wisdom's rules;
Know, foppery's the pride of fools;
And ftriving nature to conceal,
You only her defects reveal.
THE prudent nymph, whofe cheeks disclose
The lilly and the blufhing rofe,
From public view her charms will screen,
And rarely in the crowd be feen;
This fimple truth fhall keep her wife,
"The fairest fruits attract the flies."
One night a glow-worm, proud and vain,
Contemplating her glitt'ring train,
Cry'd, fure there never was in nature
So elegant, fo fine a creature.
All other infects that I see,
The frugal ant, induftrious bee,
Or filk-worm with contempt I view ;
With all that low mechanic crew,
Who fervilely their lives employ
In business-enemy to joy.
Mean vulgar herd! ye are my scorn ;
For grandeur only I was born;
Or fure am fprung from race divine,
And plac'd on earth to live and shine.
Thofe lights that sparkle fo on high,
Are but the glow-worms of the sky;
And kings on earth their gems admire,
Because they imitate my fire.
She fpoke. Attentive on a fpray
A nightingale forbore his lay ;
He faw the fhining morfel near,
And flew, directed by the glare;
A while he gazed with sober look,
And thus the trembling prey befpoke:
Deluded fool, with pride elate,
Know, 'tis thy beauty brings thy fate:
Lefs dazzling long thou might'st have lain
Unheeded on the velvet plain :
Pride, foon or late, degraded mourns,
And beauty wrecks whom she adorns.
FABLE OF THE FLY AND THE CANDLE.
BRIGHT fhone the taper's fparkling blaze,
Whofe gaudy ftar-befpangling rays
Allur'd a wand'ring fly,
That round the wick's enchanting light,
With sportive wings indulg'd her flight,
Nor dreamt of danger nigh.
In wider circles first she flew,
Contracted foon, she nearer drew,
And brav'd the shining foe;
For who could think that grief or pain
A form fo fpecious could contain,
Or fuch deception know!
But, oh! ere thought a moment paft,
The foe attack'd, repels as fast,
She falls, difabled thrown;
e
"Amazing fcene! what's this I fee? That lively meteor's hurt-not me, "Twas fancy threw me down!
"I'll try again," refolv'd, fhe cries;
When fpringing up, again defies
The bright Hefperian flame :
She flew :-but mark the dire event,
She dies, unweeting its intent,
A victim to her shame.
Thus flain, fhe lies a warning fair,
To bid our felf. conceit beware
Of fond delufion's guile :
Or teach thine innocence to fhun
Th' approach of death, by fin begun
In foft temptation's fmile.
When pleasure then (delufive dame !
Prefenting, waves her plumed flame,
In token of delight;
Remember, 'tis a fenfual blaze,
On which the bids thine eye-lids gaze,
To fascinate their fight.
When honour's gaudy treach'rous bait
Stings thy ambition to be great,
And flatters all its pride ;
Then is the feafon to beware
The vile feducer's laqueant fnare,
Or ftem the furging tide.
Hear this, ye fools! from infects learn,
Where fate's your felf-prefumption warn
To fhield the nobler part;
In faith to eye the grand reward,
While pray'rs unwearied watching, guard
The iffues of our heart.
"Twas cold November! the winds blew-the rains fell; when the humane, the tender hearted Emma beheld a feeble' solitary fly' crawling up the frame of her parlour-window; which overlooked the garden, wherein, but a little time before, he had roved, with all the vigour a warm fun could give, Touched with compaffion for the helpless object, the extended her hand, gently, to remove it to warmth and life. The fly, mistaking her intention, thus (if report errs not) addreffed her:
AH! let gentle pity spare me,
I have ne'er done Emma harm;
To the warm hearth quickly bear me,
Of his fting fell death disarm.
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