432 



SULPHUR PARRAKEET. 



Born in the favoring blaze of Eastern skies, 



Corinna's pride, the feather'd talker dies. 



Attend, ye tuneful denizens of air, 



And join your sorrows with the weeping fair. 



With flagging wings and ruffled plumes appearjif-^ ^ /u/ 



And sing a mournful requiem round his bier. 



Sad Philomel, thy notes no longer ply 



On Ity's fate and Tereus' cruelty. 



If still thou cali'st it pleasure to complain. 



Now let the Indian favourite claim thy strain. 



But chief, mild Turtle, o*er his body bend, 



And wail in lengthen'd notes the parted friend. 



With thee thro' life his fond affection ran ; 



"Nor death extinguish'd what so well began. 



Nor Pylades with his Orestes join'd 



E'er found a friend more constant or more kind. 



Now what avails, alas ! that sacred name ? 



Or what the beauties of thy matchless frame ? 



Or what the mimic voice, that well could try 



Each varying word and changing minstrelsy ? 



Ill-fated praise! nor could thy mistress save 



Her feather'd favourite from a timeless grave. 



Scarce could the emerald match thy verdant quill ; 



While saffron tinged the ruby of thy bill. 



Thy temperance no sage hath e'er surpass'd t 



Nuts, poppies, water, form'd the sole repast. 



Thy speech excell'd thy own loquacious race. 



And li-p*d each falling word with happier grace. 



Oft would thy ready tongue each accent steal. 



While iaik supplied thy interrupted meal. 



Invidious Fate ! with ruthless hand to seize 



A harmless, peaceful prattler, born to please ! 



Yet ftetful Quails amid' their contests live, 



And thro* the series of their wounds survive. 



Yet the fierce Vulture lives, and tears his prey 3 



And the Kite wheels in air his circling way. ^ ^ ^ 



