A Flood.-The Fly. The godlike face of man avails him nought. The country be shut up, lur'd by the scent, 63 THOMSON. A FLOOD. WHEN from the hills the torrents swift and strong Deluge whole fields, and sweep the trees along, Thro' ruin'd moles the rushing flood resounds, O'erwhelms the bridge, and bursts the lofty bounds; The yellow harvests of the ripen'd year, And flatten'd vineyards, one sad waste appear: While clouds descend in sluicy sheets of rain, And all the labours of mankind are vain. THE FLY. THE fly about the candle gay G 2 POPE. But But short, alas! his giddy play, The child in such simplicity TO A BEE. THOU wert out betimes, thou busy busy Bee! On the meadow with dew so gray, I saw thee, thou busy busy Bee! Thou wert alive, thou busy busy Bee! When the crowd in their sleep were dead, Thou wert abroad in the freshest hour, When the sweetest odour comes from the flower. Man will not learn to leave his lifeless bed, And be wise and copy thee, thou busy busy Bee! Thou To a Bee. Thou wert working late, thou busy busy Bee! After the fall of the cistus flower, 65 I heard thee last as I saw thee first, When the primrose-tree blossom was ready to burst. In the coolness of the ev'ning hour, I heard thee, thou busy busy Bee! Thou art a miser, thou busy busy Bee! Still on thy golden stores intent, Thy youth in heaping and hoarding is spent I will not copy thee, thou miserly Bee! Thou art a fool, thou busy busy Bee, Thy master waits till thy work is done, And will murder thee, thou poor little Bee! 66 The Cranes. The Strength of Virtue. THE CRANES. MARK how when sullen clouds appear But take the wing, and thro' the air And far o'er land and seas to warmer climes repair. THE STRENGTH OF VIRTUE. ..... Against the threats Of malice ........... or that power Which erring men call Chance, this hold I firm, MILTON. The Nightingale.-The Serpent. 67 THE NIGHTINGALE. CLOSE in the poplar shade the nightingale LEE. THE SERPENT. IN fair Calabria's woods a snake is bred While springs are gushing, while the southern air But when in muddy pools the water sinks, He |