"They say it was a shocking sight For many thousand bodies here But things like that, you know, must be "Great praise the Duke of Marlbro' won, "Nay-nay-my little girl," quoth he, "And every body praised the Duke, "Why, that I cannot tell," said he, THE BUTTERFLY AND THE SNAIL. ALL upstarts, insolent in place, His now-forgotten friend, a snail, "What means yon peasant's daily toil, "From choaking weeds to rid the soil? 'Why wake you to the morning's care? Why with new arts correct the year? 66 66 Why glows the peach with crimson hue? "And why the plum's inviting blue? "Were they to feast his taste designed, "That vermin of voracious kind! "Crush then the slow, the pilfering race; "So purge thy garden from disgrace.' "What arrogance!" the snail replied; "How insolent is upstart pride! "Hadst thou not thus, with insult vain, "Provoked my patience to complain, "I had concealed thy meaner birth, "Nor traced thee to the scum of earth. For scarce nine suns have waked the hours, "To swell the fruit, and paint the flowers, "Since I thy humbler life surveyed, "In base, in sordid guise arrayed; "A hideous insect, vile, unclean, "You dragged a slow and noisome train; "And from your spider-bowels drew "Foul film, and spun the dirty clue. "I own my humble life, good friend; "Snail was I born, and snail shall end. "And what's a butterfly? At best, "He's but a caterpillar drest; "And all thy race (a numerous seed,) "Shall prove of caterpillar breed." ROBIN AND ANNA. SHE listens ; "Tis the wind," she cries: The moon, that rose so full and bright, Is now o'ercast: she weeps, she sighs,She fears 'twill be a stormy night. Not long was Anna wed. Her mate, A fisherman, was out at sea: The night is dark, the hour is late, “Oh! who would love! oh! who would wed "A wandering fisherman, to be "A wretched, lonely wife, and dread "Each breath that blows, when he's at sea!" Not long was Anna wed. One pledge "Oh! who would think her portion blessed "Whose father's on a stormy sea!" The thunder bursts! the lightning falls! The little cottage quakes again !— She does not weep; she does not sigh; A smile lights up the cherub's eye, "Oh! who would be a seaman's wife! "To tremble for her husband's life! "To weep-because her infant smiled!" Hadst thou ne'er borne a seaman's boy- To press his weather-beaten cheek, To weep the joy thou couldst not speak- Thy cheerful fire, thy plain repast, O happy pair! the pains you know And Robin still is safe at home! THE GLADIATOR. I SEE before me the Gladiator lie: He leans upon his hand-his manly brow Ere ceased the inhuman shout which hailed the wretch who won. He heard it, but he heeded not-his eyes All this rushed with his blood-Shall he expire ST. PHILIP NERI AND THE YOUTH. ST. Philip Neri, as old readings say, Met a young stranger in Rome's streets one day; To give young folks a sober turn of mind, St. "Tell me, what brings you, gentle youth, to "Rome ?" Y. "To make myself a scholar, sir, I come." St. "And, when you are one, what do you intend ?" St. "Well; and how then?" Y. "And yet my lot it possibly may be." St. "Suppose it was-what then?" "Why, cardinal's a high degree Y. Why, who can say, "But I've a chance of being pope one day?" St. "Well, having worn the mitre, and red hat, "And triple crown, what follows after that?" Y. "Nay, there is nothing further to be sure, "Upon this earth, that wishing can procure : "When I've enjoyed a dignity so high, "As long as God shall please, then, I must die." St. "What! must you die? fond youth! and at the best "But wish and hope, and may be all the rest! F |