40 PLEASURES OF ORNITHOLOGY. 



You unto wisdom — to her pleasant paths 

 Of quiet, peace ; and to that purer cause 

 Which Gentleness and Feeling advocate ; 

 To that Humanity which breathes aloud 

 One universal wish of happiness — 

 Of love for all creation animate — 

 To pleasure's pure and unpolluted stream. 

 Deep, noiseless, flowing, and for ever clear ; 

 Whose waters, whoso drinks, exhilarate 

 Without intoxication, and impart 

 Vigour to gentleness, to virtue strength : 

 Then should a voice be heard to ask, to pray, 



Oh ! let no more, in sporty your footsteps haste 

 To death ; train YE no more sagacious dogs 

 To scent the couching covey, while you point 

 The fatal tube ; but, should imperious Want, 

 A tyrant ever, and will be obey'd. 

 Or rude annoyance e'er your peace invade, 

 Then only are you justified to ask — 

 Demand their sacrifice ; — oh ! let it be 

 Swift as the lightning's shaft, a struggle, sigh, 

 And silence ! 



Cease thou Song of Pleasantness! 

 Be still my harp's vibrations ! Ye have told. 

 Guided by Truth and Nature's gentle hand- 

 By warm Benevolence o'er all supreme — 



