No wailing ghost shall dare appear To vex with shrieks this quiet grove; But shepherd lads assemble here, And melting virgins own their love. No wither'd witch shall here be seen; No goblins lead their nightly crew: The female Fays shall haunt the green, And dress thy grave with pearly dew! 5 10 In tempests shake the sylvan cell; Or 'midst the chase, on every plain, The tender thought on thee shall dwell; 20 Each lonely scene shall thee restore; For thee the tear be duly shed; Beloved till life can charm no more, And mourn'd till pity's self be dead. COLLINS. THE CHAMELEON. OFT has it been my lot to mark To see, whatever could be seen. 5 Whatever word you chance to drop, Two travellers of such a cast, "Hold there," the other quick replies, "I've seen it, Sir, as well as you, And must again affirm it blue; At leisure I the beast survey'd Extended in the cooling shade.” "'T is green, 't is green, Sir, I assure ye.” "Green!" cries the other in a fury, 40 "Why, Sir, d'ye think I've lost my eyes? So high at last the contest rose, "Sirs," cries the umpire, 66 cease your pother; The creature's neither one nor t' other. I caught the animal last night, And view'd it o'er by candlelight: I mark'd it well; 't was black as jet. 55 You stare: but, Sirs, I've got it yet, And can produce it." "Pray, Sir, do; I'll lay my life, the thing is blue." "And I'll be sworn that, when you've seen The reptile, you'll pronounce him green." 60 "Well then, at once to ease the doubt," Replies the man, "I'll turn him out; And when before your eyes I've set him, If you don't find him black, I'll eat him." He said; then full before their sight Produced the beast, and, lo! 't was white. Both stared; the man look'd wondrous wise: "My children," the chameleon cries, (Then first the creature found a tongue,) "You all are right and all are wrong: When next you talk of what you view, 65 70 Think others see as well as you; Nor wonder, if you find that none ALEXANDER SELKIRK. I AM monarch of all I survey, I am lord of the fowl and the brute. That sages have seen in thy face? Better dwell in the midst of alarms, Than reign in this horrible place. I am out of humanity's reach, MERRICK 5 I must finish my journey alone, 10 Never hear the sweet music of speech,→ I start at the sound of my own. The beasts that roam over the plain My form with indifference see; 15 Society, friendship, and love, And be cheer'd by the sallies of youth. Religion! what treasure untold More precious than silver and gold, Ye winds, that have made me your sport, Of a land I shall visit no more. My friends, do they now and then send O tell me I yet have a friend, Though a friend I am never to see. 40 How fleet is a glance of the mind! Compared with the speed of its flight, And the swift-winged arrows of light. Soon hurries me back to despair. But the sea-fowl is gone to her nest, And I to my cabin repair. And reconciles man to his lot. COWPER. |