How dearly I would love to see Thy tiny cara sposa, As full of sensibility As any coy mimosa ! They say, when hunters track her nest Where two warm pearls are lying, She boldly fights, though sore distrest, And sends the brigands flying. What dainty epithets thy tribes Have won from men of science! Pedantic and poetic scribes For once are in alliance. Crested Coquette, and Azure Crown, Such titles aim to paint the hues That on the darlings glitter, And were we for a week to muse, We scarce could light on fitter. Farewell, bright bird! I envy thee, Gay rainbow-tinted rover; Would that my life, like thine, were free From care till all is over! A LESSON OF MERCY BENEATH a palm-tree by a clear cool spring God's Prophet, Mahomet, lay slumbering, Till, roused by chance, he saw before him stand A foeman, Durther, scimitar in hand. The chieftain bade the startled sleeper rise; And with a flame of triumph in his eyes, "Who now can save thee, Mahomet?" he cried. "God," said the Prophet, "God, my friend and guide." Awe-struck the Arab dropped his naked sword, Which, grasped by Mahomet, defied its lord: And, "Who can save thee now thy blade is won?" Exclaimed the Prophet. Durther answered, "None!" Then spake the victor: "Though thy hands are red With guiltless blood unmercifully shed, And thus the twain, unyielding foes of yore, o'er. |