. Bards and the birds; . hy disturb your social joys,Parent, filial, kindred ties ?Common friend to you and me,Natures gifts to all are free :Peaceful keep your dimpling feed, or wanton lave ;Or, beneath the sheltering rock,Bide the surging billows shock. 236 BARDS AND THE BIRDS Conscious, blushing for our race,Soon, too soon, your fears I , your proud usurping foe,Would be lord of all below :Plumes himself in Freedoms pride,Tyrant stern to all beside. The eagle, from the cliffy you his prey below,In his breast no pity dwells,Strong necessity man, to
. Bards and the birds; . hy disturb your social joys,Parent, filial, kindred ties ?Common friend to you and me,Natures gifts to all are free :Peaceful keep your dimpling feed, or wanton lave ;Or, beneath the sheltering rock,Bide the surging billows shock. 236 BARDS AND THE BIRDS Conscious, blushing for our race,Soon, too soon, your fears I , your proud usurping foe,Would be lord of all below :Plumes himself in Freedoms pride,Tyrant stern to all beside. The eagle, from the cliffy you his prey below,In his breast no pity dwells,Strong necessity man, to whom alone is givenA ray direct from pitying Heaven,Glories in his heart humane—And creatures for his pleasure slain. In these savage, liquid plains,Only known to wandring swains,Where the mossy rivlet strays;Far from human haunts and ways ;All on Nature you lifes poor season peaceful spend. Or, if mans superior might,Dare invade your native the lofty ether borne,Man with all his powers you scorn ;. CALIDORE 237 Swiftly seek, on clanging wings,Other lakes and other springs ;And the foe you cannot at least to be his slave. BURNS. From DONICA The fisher in the lake below Durst never cast his net,Nor ever swallow in its waves Her passing wings would wet. SOUTHEY. From CALIDORE Scarce can his clear and nimble eyesight followThe freaks and dartings of the black-wingd much, to see it half at so refreshingly its wings and breastGainst the smooth surface, and to mark anon,The widening circles into nothing gone. KEATS. 238 BARDS AND THE BIRDS THE PROLOGUE O SWALLOW, with resistless wing, that holdst the air in fee,O swallow, with thy joyous sweep oer earth andsunlit sea,O swallow, who, if night were thine, wouldstwheel amongst the stars. Why linger round the eaves ?Unhappy ! free of all the world, hast knit thy soul to clay ?And glued thy heart upon the wall, thou swiftestchild of day ?Claim, glorious wing, thy heritage; bre
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, booksubjectbirdsin, bookyear1894
