33^ t'l^e entail, a fable . May I, 



Of Noah's or Deucalion's flooJ> 



Long hov'rlng round a perfum'd lavvn. 



By various gusts of odours drawn, 



Ac lasc escablifli'd his repojC 



On the rich bosjm of a rose. 



The palace pleas'd the lordly gu?st j 



What insect own'd a prouder nest ? 



The dewy leaves luxuriant (hed 



Their balmy odours o'er his head. 



And with their silken tapestry fold 



His limbs, enthron'd on central gold, 



He thinks the thorns, embattl'd roundj 



To guard his castle's lovely mound, 



And all the bu(h's wide domain 



Subservient to his fancied reign. 



Such ample blefslngs swell'd the fly ! 



Yet in his mind's capacious eye, 



He roU'd the change of mortal things, 



The common fate of ilies and kings j 



With grief he saw how lands and honours. 



Are apt to slide to various owners i 



Where Mowbray's dwelt, how groiers dwell, 



And hov/ cits buy what barons sell : 



" Great Phcbus ! patriarch of my line, 



" Avert such Ihame from soas of thine '. 



" To them confirm these roofs," he said; 



And then he swore an oath so dread, 



The stoutest wasp that wears a swo».d. 



Had trembled to have heard the -word ! 



" If law can rivet down entails, 



" These manors ne'er (hall oafs to snails, 



" I swear," — and then he smote his ermine, — 



" These tow'rs were never built for vermin." 



A caterpillar grovell'd near, 

 A sub:ile slow conveyancer, 

 Who, summon'd. waddles with his quill. 

 To draw the haughty insect's will ; 

 None but his heirs must own the spot. 

 Begotten or to be begot, 

 -Each leaf he binds, each bud he ties 

 To eggs of eggs of butterflies. 

 When'lo! how fortune loves toteaze. 

 Those who would dictate her decrees j 

 A wanton boy was pafsing by. 

 The wanton child beheld the fly. 

 And eager ran to sieze the prey ; 

 But toj impetuous in his play, 

 "Cruffi'd the proud tenant of an hour, 

 AJid swep; awjy tlie mansioa flow'r. 



