154 (^LOW-WORM. 



To the Glow-worm : 

 BY Peter Pindar^ (Dr. Wolcot.) 



Bright stranger, welcome to my field, 

 Here feed in safety, here thy radiance yield. 



To me, O nightly be thy splendour given ! 

 O could a wish of mine the skies command, 

 How would I gem thy leaf with lib'ral hand, 



With ev'ry sweetest dew of Heaven. 



Say, dost thou kindly light the fairy train 

 Amid the gambols on the stilly plain. 



Hanging thy lamp upon the moisten'd blade ! 

 What lamp so fit, so pure as thine 

 Amid the gentle Elfin band to shine, 



And chase the horrors of the midnight shade ? 



Oh I may no feathered foe disturb thy bow'r. 

 And with barbarian beak thy life devour ! 



Oh ! may no ruthless torrent of the sky, 

 Overwhelming force thee from thy dewy seat; 

 Nor tempest tear thee from thy green retreat. 



And bid thee, mid the humming myriads, die- 

 Queen of the insect world, what leaves delight ? 



Of such these willing hands a bower shall form. 

 To guard thee from the rushing rains of night. 

 And hide thee from the wild wins; of the storm. 



