There dwells some wish in every heart,

And doubtless one in thine.
That wish, on some fair future day

Which Fate shall brightly gild,
('T is blameless, be it what it may,)

I wish it all fulfill'd.

PAIRING TIME ANTICIPATED.

A FABLE.

I shall not ask Jean Jacques Rousseau,
If birds confabulate or no;
'Tis clear that they were always able
To hold discourse, at least in fable;
And even the child who knows no better
Than to interpret by the letter
A story of a cock and bull,
Must have a most uncommon skull.

It chanced then on a winter's day,
But warm and bright and calm as May,
The birds, conceiving a design
To forestall sweet St. Valentine,
In many an orchard, copse, and grove
Assembled on affairs of love,
And with much twitter and much chatter
Began to agitate the matter.
At length a Bullfinch, who could boast
More years and wisdom than the most,
Entreated, opening wide his beak,
A moment's liberty to speak;
And silence publicly enjoin'd,
Deliver'd briefly thus his mind :

My friends! be cautious how you treat
The subject upon which we meet;

I fear we shall have winter yet. * It was one of the whimsical speculations of this philosopher, that all fables which ascribe reason and speech to animals, should be withheld from children, as being only vehicles of deception. Bilt what child was ever deceived by them, or can be, against the evidence of his senses !

A Finch, whose tongue knew no control,
With golden wing and satin poll,
A last year's bird, who ne'er had tried
What marriage means, thus pert replied :

Methinks the gentleman, quoth she,
Opposite in the apple-tree,
By his good will would keep us single
Till yonder heaven and earth shall mingle ;
Or (which is likelier to befall)
Till death exterminate us all.
I marry without more ado;
My dear Dick Redcap, what say you ?

Dick heard, and tweedling, ogling, bridling,
Turning short round, strutting, and sideling,
Attested, glad, his approbation
Of an immediate conjugation.
Their sentiments so well express'd
Influenced mightily the rest ;
All pair’d, and each pair built a nest.

But though the birds were thus in haste, The leaves came on not quite so fast, And destiny, that sometimes bears An aspect stern on man's affairs, Not altogether smiled on theirs. The wind, of late breathed gently forth, Now shifted east, and east by north; Bare trees and shrubs but ill, you know, Could shelter them from rain or snow; Stepping into their nests, they paddled, Themselves were chill'd, their eggs were addled ; Soon every father bird and mother Grew quarrelsome, and peck'd each other, Parted without the least regret, Except that they had ever met, And learn'd in future to be wiser Than to neglect a good adviser.

MORAL.

Misses ! the tale that I relate

This lesson seems to carry

Choose not alone a proper mate,

But proper time to marry.

THE DOG AND THE WATER-LILY.

NO FABLE.

The noon was shady, and soft airs

Swept Ouse's silent tide,
When, 'scaped from literary cares,

I wander'd on his side.
My spaniel, prettiest of his race,

And high in pedigree, (Two nymphs * adorn’d with every grace

That spaniel found for me,)
Now wanton'd lost in flags and reeds,

Now starting into sight,
Pursued the swallow o'er the meads

With scarce a slower flight.
It was the time when Ouse display'd

His lilies newly blown;
Their beauties I intent survey’d,

And one I wish'd my own.
With cane extended far I sought

To steer it close to land ;
But still the prize, though nearly caught,

Escaped my eager hand.
Beau mark'd my unsuccessful pains

With fix'd considerate face,
And puzzling set his puppy brains

To comprehend the case.
But with a cherup clear and strong,

Dispersing all his dream,
I thence withdrew, and follow'd long

The windings of the stream.
My ramble ended, I return'd;
Beau, trotting far before,

* Sir Robert Gunning's daughters.

The floating wreath again discern'd,

And plunging left the shore.
I saw him with that lily cropp'd

Impatient swim to meet
My quick approach, and soon he dropp'd

The treasure at my feet.
Charm'd with the sight, The world, I cried,

Shall hear of this thy deed :
My dog shall mortify the pride

Of man's superior breed;
But chief myself I will enjoin,

Awake at duty's call,
To show a love as prompt as thine

To Him who gives me all.

TO THE

IMMORTAL MEMORY OF THE HALIBUT, ON WHICH I DINED THIS DAY, MONDAY, APRIL 26, 1784. Where hast thou floated, in what seas pursued Thy pastime ? When wast thou an egg new spawn'd, Lost in the immensity of ocean's waste ? Roar as they might, the overbearing winds That rock'd the deep, thy cradle, thou wast safeAnd in thy minikin and embryo state, Attach'd to the firm leaf of some salt weed, Didst outlive tempests, such as wrung and rack'd The joints of many a stout and gallant bark, And whelm’d them in the unexplored abyss. Indebted to no magnet and no chart, Nor under guidance of the polar fire, Thou wast a voyager on many coasts, Grazing at large in meadows submarine, Where flat Batavia just emerging peeps Above the brine,—where Caledonia's rocks Beat back the surge,--and where Hibernia shoots Her wondrous Causeway far into the main. -Wherever thou hast fed, though little thought'st,

And I not more, that I should feed on thee.
Peace, therefore, and good health, and much good fish,
To him who sent thee! and success, as oft
As it descends into the billowy gulf,
To the same drag that caught thee !-Fare thee well!
Thy lot thy brethren of the slimy fin
Would envy, could they know that thou wast doom'd
To feed a bard, and to be praised in verse.

GRATITUDE.

ADDRESSED TO LADY II ESKETH.

1786.
This cap, that so stately appears,

With ribbon-bound tassel on high,
Which seems by the crest that it rears

Ambitious of brushing the sky;
This cap to my Cousin I owe,

She gave it, and gave me beside,
Wreath'd into an elegant bow,

The ribbon with which it is tied.
This wheel-footed studying chair,

Contrived both for toil and repose,
Wide-elbow'd, and wadded with hair,

In which I both scribble and doze,
Bright-studded to dazzle the eyes,

And rival in lustre of that
In which, or astronomy lies,

Fair Cassiopeïa sat :
These carpets, so soft to the foot,

Caledonia's traffic and pride,
O spare them, ye knights of the boot,

Escaped from a cross-country ride!
This table and mirror within,

Secure from collision and dust,
At which I oft shave cheek and chin,

And periwig nicely adjust :