326 THE MAGPIE 



characteristics, especially those which have been 

 developed by her association with man. The two 

 chief exceptions are Wordsworth, who is pre- 

 eminently the poet of nature, the "most joy- 

 bringing," as he has been called, "of English 

 poets " ; and old Chaucer, equally eminent, perhaps, 

 as the poet of human nature, at least in its social 

 aspects. The "joly pie" he often calls her. 

 "Dinsome," "harsh," "a feathered thief," "a 

 scandal-monger," are only a few of the epithets 

 bestowed upon her by other poets. 



" An impudent, presuming pye. 

 Malicious, ignorant and sly," 



says one of the number, piling his scorn high upon 

 her; 



" Brazen magpies, fond of clack, 



Full of insolence and pride, 

 Chattering, on the donkey's back 

 Perched, and pulled her shaggy hide," 



says another. But it should be noticed in 

 justification, not so much of the epithets, as of 

 the charge brought against the magpie in the 

 last two lines, that Lord Lilford did once himself 

 see a whole brood of magpies pecking an unfortu- 

 nate donkey who had a sore back. Pope is the 



