86 
THE LANGUAGE OF BIRDS. 
For as he lov'd her equal to his life, 
He would not to the seas expose his wife ; 
Nor could be wrought his voyage to refrain, 
But sought, by arguments, to soothe her pain : 
Nor these avail'd — at length he lights on one, 
With which so difficult a cause he won. 
My love, so short an absence cease to fear, 
For by my father's holy flame I swear, 
Before two moons their orb with light adorn. 
If Heav'n allow me life, I will return. 
The forebodings of the sorrowing Alcyone were 
but too soon realized ; Ceyx was shipwrecked, and 
perished, while his unhappy queen still cherished 
hopes of his return. Dryden so beautifully paints 
this story, that I am confident my readers will be 
more pleased with his verse than with my prose ; he 
shall, therefore, speak for me. 
Meantime, Alcyone (his fate unknown) 
Computes how many nights he had been gone. 
Observes the waning moon, with hourly view, 
Numbers her age, and wishes for a new 
