A Tale.

The heaths uncovered and the moors,

Except with snow and sleet,
Sea-beaten rocks and naked shores
Could yield them no retreat.

Long time a breeding-place they sought,
Till both grew vexed and tired;
At length a ship arriving brought
The good so long desired.

A ship!-could such a restless thing
Afford them place of rest?

Or was the merchant charged to bring
The homeless birds a nest?

Hush-silent hearers profit most

This racer of the sea

Proved kinder to them than the coast

It served them with a tree.

But such a tree! 'Twas shaven deal,
The tree they call a mast,
And had a hollow with a wheel,

Through which the tackle passed.

Within that cavity aloft

Their roofless home they fixed, Formed with materials neat and soft, Bents, wool, and feathers mixed.

Four ivory eggs soon pave its floor,
With russet specks bedight—
The vessel weighs, forsakes the shore,
And lessens to the sight.

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The mother-bird is gone to sea,

As she had changed her kind; But goes the male? Far wiser, he Is doubtless left behind.

No-soon as from ashore he saw
The winged mansion move,
He flew to reach it, by a law

Of never failing love.

Then, perching at his consort's side,
Was briskly borne along,
The billows and the blast defied,
And cheered her with a song.

The seaman with sincere delight
His feathered shipmates eyes,
Scarce less exulting in the sight
Than when he tows a prize.

For seamen much believe in signs,
And from a chance so new
Each some approaching good divines;

And may his hopes be true!

Hail, honoured land! a desert where
Not even birds can hide,

Yet parent of this loving pair,
Whom nothing could divide.

And ye who, rather than resign
Your matrimonial plan,

Were not afraid to plough the brine
In company with man.

King Lear and His Three Daughters.

For whose lean country much disdain

We English often show,

Yet from a richer nothing gain

But wantonness and woe.

Be it your fortune, year by year,

The same resource to prove,

And may ye, sometimes landing here,

Instruct us how to love!

Cowper.

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KING LEAR AND HIS THREE DAUGHTERS.

ING Lear once ruled in this land

With princely power and peace;

And had all things with heart's content,

That might his joys increase.

Amongst those things that nature gave,

Three daughters fair had he,

So princely seeming, beautiful,

As fairer could not be.

So on a time it pleased the king
A question thus to move,
Which of his daughters to his grace
Could show the dearest love:
"For to my age you bring content,"
Quoth he, "then let me hear,
Which of you three in plighted troth
The kindest will appear."

To whom the eldest thus began:
"Dear father mine," quoth she,
"Before your face to do you good,
My blood shall rendered be:

And for your sake my bleeding heart
Shall here be cut in twain,
Ere that I see your reverend age
The smallest grief sustain."

"And so will I," the second said,
"Dear father, for your sake,
The worst of all extremities

I'll gently undertake:

And serve your highness night and day
With diligence and love;

That sweet content and quietness

Discomforts may remove."

"In doing so, you glad my soul,"

The aged king replied;

"But what say'st thou, my youngest girl,

How is thy love allied?"

My love," quoth young Cordelia then, "Which to your grace I owe,

Shall be the duty of a child,

And that is all I'll show."

"And wilt thou show no more," quoth he,

"Than doth thy duty bind?

I well perceive thy love is small,

When as no more I find.

Henceforth I banish thee my court,

Thou art no child of mine;

Nor any part of this my realm
By favour shall be thine.

Thy elder sisters' loves are more
Than I can well demand,
To whom I equally bestow

My kingdom and my land,

King Lear and His Three Daughters.

My pompal state and all my goods,

That lovingly I may

With those thy sisters be maintained
Until my dying day."

Thus flattering speeches won renown
By these two sisters here;

The third had causeless banishment,

Yet was her love more dear:
For poor Cordelia patiently

Went wandering up and down,
Unhelped, unpitied, gentle maid,
Through many an English town.

Until at last in famous France

She gentler fortunes found;

Though poor and bare, yet she was deemed
The fairest on the ground:

Where, when the king her virtues heard,

And this fair lady seen,

With full consent of all his court,
He made his wife and queen.

Her father, King Lear, this while
With his two daughters stayed :
Forgetful of their promised loves,
Full soon the same decayed;
And living in Queen Regan's court,

The eldest of the twain,

She took from him his chiefest means,

And most of all his train.

For whereas twenty men were wont

To wait with bended knee,

She gave allowance but to ten,

And after scarce to three;

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