436 THE DUCK AND THE SERPENT. 



eighty pounds per annum ; but, with an understanding that he was 

 only to receive half the amount ! and upon such a scanty allowance he 

 existed for two years previous to his death. Upon few had such bit- 

 ter humiliation been inflicted, and upon still fewer would it have 

 produced such amiable results ; for the consciousness that he had, 

 by his own imprudence, lost the means of supporting the character of 

 a useful and benevolent clergyman, as he might have done, led him 

 to an earnest, but unostentatious, discharge of his duty in other re- 

 spects, which procured him general esteem. His parishioners re- 

 quested my permission to place a tomb over his grave for they 

 loved, while they pitied him and the plain stone which simply re- 

 cords their respect for his memory, is a tribute to his virtues, beyond 

 the reach of elaborate sculpture, or classic elegance, to improve. 



NUPER. 



THE DUCK AND THE SERPENT. 



FROM THE SPANISH OP YRIARTE. 



BESIDE a pond, whose banks she haunted, 

 A duck one day her talents vaunted ; 

 " What animal can boast," said she, . 

 " The many gifts that dwell in me ? 

 Earth, water, air, are all my own 

 When I am tir'd of walking grown, 

 I fly, if so I take the whim 

 Or if it pleases me, I swim." 



A cunning serpent overheard 

 The boasting of the clumsy bird, 

 And with a most contemptuous hiss, 

 He spoke a lecture such as this : 

 " It strikes me, ma'am, there's small occasion 

 For your just utter'd proclamation ; 

 These gifts of yours shine rather dim, 

 Since neither like the trout you swim, 

 Nor like the deer step swift and light, 

 Nor match the eagle in your flight." 



They err who think that merit clings 

 To knowledge slight of many things ; 

 He who would wish at all t'excel, 

 Whate'er he does, should do it well. 



