The Owls and The Sparrows

THE glowing west had lost its red,
And sable clouds began to spread;
The Sparrows' pert and greedy brood,
Persisted still to seek for food.
A pair of Owls, from hollow tree,
Excited all their foolish glee.
The giddy flock, like idle folks,
Hasted to make their gibes and jokes.
With manners frivolous and rude,
Insulting, they the Owls pursu'd;
When suddenly the biggest bird
Fac'd them, and beg'd he might be heard.
On this the coward noisy crew,
Wishing the weakest to pursue,

Pass'd with rapid flight the other,
Calling--"Hearken to your brother."
        Both Owls, with visage round and grave,
Now turn'd, the flippant tribe to brave.
        Folly, when join'd with insolence,
To valor has but small pretence;
Which in each Sparrow was evinc'd,
For not a single one but flinch'd:
Mock bravery, like spark expir'd,
Their trembling hearts no longer fir'd.
        In haste off flew the saucy brood,
And very close the Owls pursu'd:
Nor hopes, nor fears could much avail,
The Owls with talons fierce assail.
        The bicorn birds, exciting awe,
Each with a Sparrow in his claw,
Flying triumphant to his nest,
From thence the captives thus addrest:--
        "We'll give you pardon, if your brood
"Will be less arrogant and rude,

"Less offensive to your betters,
"Folks especially of letters.
"For want of beauty, sense, and wit,
"Make insolence still more unfit."
        The Sparrows cry'd--"You think us bold,
"Therefore you shall the truth be told.
"You have us now within your pow'r;
"Our lives perhaps scarce worth an hour.
"Know then, that Sparrows, if not best,
"At least are birds the happiest;
"And this, tho' fools, 'tis wise to know,
"And happily have prov'd it so.
        "Whoever scarce in any age,
"Observ'd a Sparrow in a cage?
"Not distinguish'd like the linnet,--
"Wing unmark'd no charm has in it;
"Our voice the ear will not regale,
"Like lark, or thrush, or nightingale.

"Thus we remain within the grove,
"And chirip, if not sing, notes of love.
"Parrots, words a few can utter,
"Therefore seen in cage to flutter,
"Magpies as much, or little more,
"Observ'd to grace an alehouse door.
"A dove for constancy is known,
"And therefore doom'd to live alone,
"To leave his true beloved mate,
"And mourn in bondage his hard fate.
"There have been some admire an Owl;
"His knowing face, and angry scoul,
"For wisdom sometimes he's renown'd,"
(At this both Owls look'd grave and frown'd)
"And had the feather'd tribe a cause,
"Would wish him to interpret laws.
        "Now, sirs, if ye are truly wise,
" 'Twould be no matter of surprize,
"Seeing charms we want, and merit,
"Should you let us but inherit

"That independence nature gave:
"We're no man's property, nor slave;
"Prais'd by none; no one protects us;
"Then we're free, no one corrects us,
"Which makes us sometimes saucy, bold,
"As you have seen, and I have told."
        The Owls, in spite of gravity,
Laughed to an extreme degree.
        "I think," said one, "our settled rules
"Are for the wise to suffer fools;
"Let them at any rate retain
"The 'vantage which we would not gain,"
        The other said--"We owe them grudge;
"As birds of wisdom, and as judge,
"Thus surely punish'd should they be;
"For in what court is insult free?"
        The friend to mercy said--"My spleen
"Doth not extend to things so mean:
"Sparrows may be gay and jolly;
"What joy have fools, unless 'tis folly?"

MORAL.

Children, like fools, when uncontrol'd,
Will be too forward and too bold;
And who hath wisdom, and is mild,
Gently reproves both fool and child.

Original fables by a Lady

Printed by W. Calvert, Shire Lane, Lincoln's Inn, for B. Crosby and Co. London, 1810

To your Royal Highness the following Fables are dedicated, with a wish that in an interval of leisure some transient amusement may be obtained.