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THE PINE-APPLE AND THE BEE.

THE pine-apples, in triple row,
Were basking hot, and all in blow;
A bee of most discerning taste,
Perceiv'd the fragrance as he pass'd.
On eager wing the spoiler came,
And search'd for crannies in the frame,
Urg'd his attempt on every side,
To every pane his trunk applied;
But still in vain; the glass was tight,
And only pervious to the light.
Thus, having wasted half the day,
He turn'd his flight another way.
Our dear delights are often such;
Expos'd to view, but not to touch.
The sight, our foolish heart inflames,
We long for pine-apples in frames:
With hopeless wish, one looks and lingers,
One breaks the glass, and cuts his fingers.
But those, whom truth and virtue lead,
Can gather honey from a weed.

TO WINTER.

A WRINKLED, crabbed man, they picture thee,
Old Winter, with a ragged beard, as grey
As the long moss upon the apple tree;
Close muffled up, and on thy dreary way,
Blue-lipt, an ice-drop at thy sharp blue nose,
Plodding alone through sleet and drifting snows.

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They should have drawn thee by the high-heaped hearth,

Old Winter! seated in thy great arm'd-chair,
Watching the children at their Christmas mirth,
Or circled by them, as their lips declare
Some merry jest, or tale of murder dire,
Or savage robbers roaming in the night;
Pausing at times, to move the languid fire,
Or taste the old October brown and bright.
Winter! thou hoary, venerable sire,

All, richly in thy furry mantle clad,

What thoughts of mirth can feeble age inspire,
To make thy rough and wrinkled brow so glad.
Now I see the reason plain,

Now I see the jolly train;
Snowy-headed winter leads,

Spring and Summer next succeed;
Yellow Autumn brings the rear,
Thou art father of the year;
While from the frosty mellowed earth,
Abounding Plenty takes her birth;
The conscious Sire, exulting, sees,
The seasons spread their rich increase.

THE BALLOON.

THUS, on the shoreless air, the intrepid Gaul
Launch'd the vast concave of his buoyant ball;
Journeying on high, the silken castle glides,
Bright as a meteor through the azure tides;
O'er towns and tow'rs, and temples wins its way,
Now mounts sublime, reflects the light of day.
Silent, with uprais'd eyes, unbreathing crowds
Pursue the floating wonder to the clouds;
And flush'd with transport or benumb'd with fear,
Watch, as it rises, the diminish'd sphere.

Now less and less! and now a speck is seen,
And now the fleeting rack intrudes between!
The calm philosopher in ether sails,

Views brighter stars, and breathes in purer gales.
Sees, like a map, in many a waving line,

Round earth's green plains her lucid waters shine;
Sees, at his feet, the forked light'nings glow,
And hears the harmless thunders roar below.

THE NIGHTINGALE AND THE GLOW-WORM.

ONE night a glow-worm proud and vain,
Contemplating her glittering train,
Cried, "Sure there never was in nature,
So elegant, so fine a creature.

All other insects that I see,
The frugal ant, th' industrious bee,
Or silkworm, with contempt I view ;
With all that low, mechanic crew,
Who servilely their lives employ,
In business, enemy to joy.
Mean, vulgar herd, ye are my scorn,
For grandeur only was I born;
Or sure am sprung from race divine,
And plac'd on earth to live and shine.
Those lights that sparkle so on high,
Are but the glow-worms of the sky;
And kings on earth their gems admire,
Because they imitate my fire."
She spake. Attentive on a spray
A nightingale forbore his lay;
He saw the shining morsel near,
And flew, directed by the glare;
Awhile he gaz'd with sober look,
And thus the trembling prey bespoke;
"Deluded fool, with pride elate,
"Know 'tis thy beauty brings thy fate;
"Less dazzling, long thou might'st have lain
"Unheeded on the grassy plain :

"Pride, soon or late, degraded mourns,
"And beauty wrecks whom she adorns."

REPUTATION.

To travel far as the wide world extends,
Seeking for objects that deserv'd their care,
Virtue set forth with two selected friends,
Talent refined, and Reputation fair.

As they went on in their intended round,
Talent spoke first; "My gentle comrades, say,
Where each of you may probably be found
Should accident divide us on the way.

If torn (she added) from my lov'd allies,
A friendly patronage I hope to find,
Where the fine arts from cultivation rise,
And the sweet muse has harmonized mankind.”

Says Virtue, "Did sincerity appear,

Or meek-ey'd charity among the great; Could I find courtiers from corruption clear, 'Tis among them I'd seek a safe retreat.

Could I find patriots, for the public weal
Assiduous, and without their selfish views;
Could I find priests of undissembled zeal,
'Tis among them, my residence I'd chuse.

In glittering domes, let luxury reside,

I shall be found in some sequester'd cell, Far from the paths of avarice and pride, Where home-bred happiness delights to dwell."

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