256 The Poets and Nature. 



Ye glow-worms, whose officious flame 

 To wand'ring mowers shows the way, 

 That in the night have lost their aim 

 And after foolish fires do stray." 



But more generally accepted is the version that points the 

 moral of the danger of lamp-carrying when the enemy is 

 abroad in the night : 



" The glow-worm must shine, though the light which it shows 

 But guides the attack of its wandering foes." 



And so it happened in the fable, for the bird was looking on 

 while the insect crept in conspicuous phosphorescence in 

 the herbage below : 



" Nor spares, enamoured of his radiant form, 

 The hungry nightingale the glowing worm ; 

 Who with bright lamp alarms the midnight hour, 

 Climbs the green stem, and slays the sleeping flower." Darwin. 



Moore, too, relates the episode, drawing the moral from the 

 fable : 



" The prudent nymph, whose cheeks disclose 

 The lily and the blushing rose, 

 From public view her charms will screen, 

 And rarely in the crowd be seen ; 

 This simple truth shall keep her wise, 

 The fairest fruits attract the flies. 

 One night a glow-worm, proud and vain, 

 Contemplating her glittering train, 

 Cried, ' Sure there never was in nature 

 So elegant, so fine a creature.' 

 She spoke : attentive, on a spray, 

 A nightingale forbore his lay, 

 He saw the shining morsel near, 

 And flew, directed by the glare ; 

 Awhile he gazed with sober look, 

 And thus the trembling prey bespoke : 

 ' Deluded fool ! with pride elate, 

 Know 'tis thy beauty brings thy fate ; 

 Less dazzling, long thou might'st have lain 

 Unheeded on the velvet plain, 

 Pride soon or late degraded mourns, 

 And beauty wrecks whom she adorns.' " 



