THE LANGUAGE OF BIRDS. 
223 
The titt'riiig voice, or hasty calling, 
Dog's snap abrupt, or puss's squalling ; 
Alternate fugues of scolding tongues. 
Or sem-briefs bray'd from asses' lungs : 
With better strains, at length, he heard 
A pipe instruct a tutor'd bird ; 
Catching the song, with tuneful throat. 
And echoing back eacb rival note. 
Thus charm'd, he, from his dark abode. 
Invited, tries th' advent'rous road : 
Down-right he flounders on ; his sight 
Is hid in momentary night. 
But gloomy fears, and perils ending. 
To spacious, lightsome room descending. 
Behold, with what a glad surprise, 
Imprison'd there, the finch he spies. 
Swinging betwixt the floor and ceiling, 
A cage, his pendent, airy dwelling. 
A gilded ball shone o'er his head. 
Thick wires, like rays, around him spread : 
A turf beneath his foot was found, 
In miniature, a verdant ground ; 
Seeds here conceaFd, there groundsel seen, 
There plaintain stalks were wove between : 
