PLEASURES OF ORNITHOLOGY. 41 



The minstrelsies of birds, their pleasures, fears ; 



What, too, on fancy fell in earlier days — 



What in mature, 'mid many lovely paths — 



'Mid woodland scenes — 'mid meadows— amid birds. 



O Reminiscences of youth ! Ye charm 



The years of manhood, soothe the aches of age ; 



Your pencil paints the pleasures of ihe past 



In liveliest hues, while many a rueful pain 



Ye darken o'er with shade; nor shall the Birds, 



That rise again like shadows o'er the scene, 



Yet vivid as the Spring — as spring-time fair. 



Be e'er forgotten ; nor, Ye warbling train ! 



While live the woods, the mountains, and the vales, — 



While spring shall smile, and summer breezes fan, — 



Shall pleasures cease your melodies to fill ; 



Nor, while with life his sanguine current beats. 



Shall e'er your Minstrel cease to love your Songs. 



What though much more of Birds remains unsung 

 Of interest and of pleasure ; yet a voice, 

 Whom now I may not dare to disobey, 

 Commands the song to cease. Thee, gentle Friend I 

 Harp of my lonely dwelling ! I resign. 

 Reluctant still to quit thy trembling strings. 

 Simple, in sooth, the humble instrument, 

 Shap'd in the cottage, far in moorland wild. 

 Where birds are free to warble and rejoice. 



