A nts and Bu tier flies. 167 



" For me, I'm made with better grace, 

 With active limbs and lively face, 

 And cleverly can move at ease, 

 Frae place to place where'er I please." 



The caterpillar goes off humbly into retirement, and the 

 end is just as in Cunningham's poem. 



In Parnell, for instance, the flies as " foolish nurslings of 

 the summer air " are violently contrasted with ants as wise 

 creatures : 



" Black ants in teams come dark'ning all the road, 

 Some call to march and some to lift the load : 

 They strain, they labour with incessant pains, 

 Press' d by the cumbrous weight of single grains. 

 The flies, struck silent, gaze with wonder down ; 

 The busy burghers reach their earthly town, 

 There lay the burthens of a wintry store, 

 And thence unwearied part in search of more." 



Somerville also has a singularly infelicitous poem on the 

 same subject, when we remember that the poor ants die 

 about the same time as butterflies : 



" The careful ant that meanly fares, 



And labours hardly to supply, 

 With wholesome cakes and homely tares 

 His num'rous working family. 



Upon a visit met one day 



His cousin fly in all his pride, 

 A courtier insolent and gay, 



By Goody Maggot near ally'd. 



The ant who could no longer bear 



His cousin's insolence and pride, 

 Toss'd up his head, and with an air 



Of conscious worth he thus reply'd. 



' Vain insect ! know the time will come 

 When the court sun no more shall shine, 



When frosts thy gaudy limbs benumb, 

 And damps about thy wings shall twine ; 



When some dark nasty hole shall hide, 



And cover thy neglected head ; 

 When all this lofty swelling pride 



Shall burst, and shrink into a shade. 



