OESERVATIOXS. 7 



On the gay bosom of some fragrant fiower 

 They idly fintl'ring live their little hour, 

 Their life all pleasure, and their task all play, 

 All spring their age, and sun-shine all their day. 

 Not so the child of sorrow, wretched man : 

 His course with toil concludes, with pain began, 

 That his high destiny he might discern, 

 And in misfortune's school this lesson learn, — 

 Pleasure's the portion of th' inferior kind ; 

 But glory, virtue. Heaven for man design'd. 



What atom forms of insect life appear ! 

 And who can follow Nature's pencil here ? 

 Their wings with azure, green, and purple glcss'd, 

 Studded with colour'd eyes, w^ith gems emboss'd, 

 Inlaid with pearl, and mark'd with various stains 

 Of lively crimson through their dusky veins. 

 Some shoot like living stars athwart the night, 

 And scatter from their wings a vivid light, 

 To guide the Indian to his tawny loves, 

 As through the woods with cautious step he moves. 

 See the proud giant of the Beetle race, 

 What shining arms his polish'd limbs enchase ! 

 Like some stern warrior formidably bright 

 His steely sides reflect a gleaming light ; 

 On his large forehead spreading horns he wears, 

 And high in air the branching antlers bears . 

 O'er many an inch extends his wide domain, 

 And his rich treasury swells with hoarded grain," 



