SUNDRIES. 



Or call to aid, with sharp shrill cry ! 

 Thy tribes, and dart on him from high, 

 If owl, or kestrel, sailing by, 

 Thy precincts threat. 



Go ! and beneath yon rafter'd shed, 

 Hang thy clay house and procreant bed ; 

 Or the strait chimney downward thread, 



Safe place to lay 



Thy six white eggs, with red besprent ; 

 Now hovering o'er the steep descent, 

 Now in thy murky chamber pent 



The livelong day. 



Go ! and the mead or hedge-row skim, 

 Or, passing, sip the water's brim ; 

 Or plunge thee in the dimpled stream 



Thy wing to prune : 

 Or with thy mate, now low, now high, 

 In sport thy viewless pinions ply ; 

 And catch with sounding beak the fly, 



Thy nestlings' boon. 



Go ! and abroad thy nestlings lead, 

 Perch'd on the chimney top to feed, 

 And train 'd the quivering wing to spread 



For doubtful flight : 

 Soon shall they make more bold essay, 

 Mix with their kindred groups in play, 

 And round the village dwellings stray, 



And church-topp'd height ; 



Now watch to see thee duly bring 

 The wonted meal, and forward spring 

 With small brisk note, and on the wing 



Their dole receive ; 

 Now fearless follow, here and there, 

 The insect myriads of the air ; 

 And thee to fresh domestic care 



Forsaken leave. 



Go ! and a mother's task renew, 

 Thy cares, and toils, and joys pursue, 

 Long as mild autumn, bath'd in dew, 



The welkin warms ; 

 'Till chill October's fickle hour 

 Shall warn thee, with thy tribes, to cower 

 On each slope roof and sunny tower, 



In countless swarms. 



