. Spring . h ;In fond rotation spread the spotted wing,And shiver every feather with desire. Connubial leagues agreed, to the deep woodsThey haste away, all as their fancy dHje Seasons. Pleasure, or food, or secret safety Natures great command may be obeyed,For all the sweet sensations they perceiveIndulged in vain. Some to the holly-hedgeNestling repair, and to the thicket some;Some to the rude protection of the thornCommit their feeble offspring. The cleft treeOffers its kind concealment to a few,Their food its insects, and its moss their , apart, far in the
. Spring . h ;In fond rotation spread the spotted wing,And shiver every feather with desire. Connubial leagues agreed, to the deep woodsThey haste away, all as their fancy dHje Seasons. Pleasure, or food, or secret safety Natures great command may be obeyed,For all the sweet sensations they perceiveIndulged in vain. Some to the holly-hedgeNestling repair, and to the thicket some;Some to the rude protection of the thornCommit their feeble offspring. The cleft treeOffers its kind concealment to a few,Their food its insects, and its moss their , apart, far in the grassy dale,Or roughening waste, their humble texture most in woodland solitudes delight,In unfrequented glooms, or shaggy banks,Steep, and divided by a babbling brook,Whose murmurs soothe them all the livelong day,When by kind duty fixed. Among the rootsOf hazel, pendant oer the plaintive frame the first foundation of their domes ;Dry sprigs of trees, in artful fabric laid,58 And bound with clay together. Now t is naughtBut restless hurry through the bus}- by unnumbered wings. The swallow sweeps 59 OTfje Seasons. The slimy pool, to build his hanging houseIntent. And often, from the careless backOf herds and flocks, a thousand tugging billsPluck hair and wool; and oft, when unob-served,Steal from the barn a straw ; till soft and warm,Clean and complete, their habitation grows. As thus the patient dam assiduous sits,Not to be tempted from her tender taskOr by sharp hunger, or by smooth delight,Though the whole loosened Spring around her blows,Her sympathising lover takes his standHigh on the opponent bank, and ceaseless singsThe tedious time away ; or else suppliesHer place a moment, while she sudden flitsTo pick the scanty meal. The appointed timeWith pious toil fulfilled, the callow young,Warmed and expanded into perfect life,Their brittle bondage break, and come tolight; 60 A helpless family, demanding food With constant clamour. O, wh
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, booksubjectspring, bookyear1892
