Must be decided by the worth

Of that which call'd his ardour forth.
Trifles purfu'd, whate'er th' event,
Muft caufe him fhame or difcontent;
A vicious object still is worse,
Successful there, he wins a curse;
But he, whom e'en in life's last stage
Endeavours laudable engage,

Is paid, at least in peace of mind,
And sense of having well defign'd;
And if, ere he attain his end,
His fun precipitate descend,

A brighter prize than that he meant
Shall recompenfe his mere intent.
No virtuous with can bear a date
Either too early or too late.

THE FAITHFUL FRIEND.

THE green-houfe is my fummer-feat;
My fhrubs difplac'd from that retreat
Enjoy'd the open air;

Two goldfinches, whose sprightly fong
Had been their mutual folace long,
Liv'd happy pris'ners there.

They fang, as blithe as finches fing
That flutter loofe on golden wing,
And frolic where they lift:

Strangers to liberty, 'tis true,

But that delight they never knew,
And, therefore, never miss'd.

Bat nature works in ev'ry breaft;
Inftin&t is never quite fupprefs'd;
And Dick felt fome defires,

Which, after many an effort vain,
Inftru&ted him at length to gain
A pass between his wires.

The

open windows feem'd to invite

The freeman to a farewell flight;

But Tom was ftill confin'd;

And Dick, although his way was clear,
Was much too gen'rous and fincere
To leave his friend behind.

For, fettling on his grated roof,
He chirp'd and kifs'd him, giving proof
That he defir'd no more;

Nor would forfake his cage at last,
'Till gently feiz'd, I fhut him faft,
A pris'ner as before.

Oh ye, who never knew the joys
Of Friendship, fatisfied with noise,
Fandango, ball and rout!

Bluth when I tell you how a bird

A prifon, with a friend, preferr'd
To liberty without.

PAIRING TIME ANTICIPATED.

Α FABLE.

I SHALL not afk Jean Jacques Rouffeau*,
If birds confabulate or no ;

'Tis clear that they were always able
To hold discourse, at least, in fable;,.
And ev'n the child, who knows no better,
Than to interpret by the letter,

A ftory of a cock and bull,

Muft have a moft uncommon fkull.

It chanc'd then, on a winter's day, But warm and bright, and calm as May, The birds, conceiving a defign

To foreftall fweet St. Valentine,

In many an orchard, copse, and grove,
Affembled on affairs of love,

It was one of the whimsical speculations of this philofopher, that all fables which ascribe reason and speech to animals should be withheld from children, as being only vehicles of deception. But what child was ever deceived by them, or can be, against the evidence of his fenfes ?

And with much twitter and much chatter,
Began to agitate the matter.

At length a Bulfinch, who could boaft
More years and wisdom than the mort,
Entreated, op'ning wide his beak,
A moment's liberty to speak;
And, filence publicly enjoin'd,
Deliver'd briefly thus his mind.
My friends! be cautious how
ye treat
The fubje& upon which we meet;
I fear we fhall have winter yet.

A Finch, whofe tongue knew no control, With golden wing and fatin poll,

A laft year's bird, who ne'er had tried What marriage means, thus pert 'replied. Methinks the gentleman, quoth fhe, Oppofite in the apple-tree,

By his good will, would keep us fingle Till yonder heav'n 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 fay you?