54 THE FLY AND THE POET. 



the Ely defunct, the fly-leaf burned, the manuscript burned too, 

 to bring back to its author's mind, had it been ever absent, that 

 notable era when his second grand Epic was completed. There 

 he sat, like the distressed Poet of the ' ' Moral Painter/' like 

 him might have " plunged for his thought," and like him have 

 "found no bottom there," only that to save diving, he seized 

 the lightsome object brought vividly to remembrance, with all 

 its heavy associations, by the scene, the hour, and the weather. 

 In short, he caught again that villain Fly, and committed him, 

 in Hie following strain, once more to paper : 



THE PLY AM) THE POET. 



l);irk were the cares of the Poet's breast, 

 (ii-.-iud were the thoughts of his head, 



l>iit sad thoughts and grand ones nu^l all he 

 For he had to write nonsense for bread. 



Proud was the curl ou the Poet's lip, 

 And In'g was the tear in his eye ; 



Scarce he saw in the inkstand his pen to dip, 

 But he saw on its summit a Flv. 



There Blue-bottle sat, and stroked down his face, 

 With a twirl of his head, twice or thrice, 



Then says he, " Brother bard I pity your case 

 " And have brought von a bit of advice. 



- 



" Nay, man, never wince ! I heed not your scorn, 



"'Tis a fact, and I'll presently show il, 

 That if no!, as you tlr.uk yourself, Poet born, 

 I'm by place and by feeding a Poet. 



