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novel ; indeed an elegant poem, called the vert -vert, has 
been, written on this subject as a basis. We shall here 
introduce an anecdote from Willoughby, perhaps more 
entertaining than the generality of those, in which the 
Parrot is hero of the tale. “ A Parrot, says he, 66 be- 
longing to King Henry the VII. who then resided at his 
palace of W estminster, by the river Thames, had learn- 
ed to talk many words, from the passengers as they hap- 
pened to take water. One day, sporting on its perch, 
the poor bird fell into the water, at the same time ex- 
claiming as loud as possible, u A boat ! a boat ! twenty 
pounds for a boat !” A waterman, who happened to be 
near, hearing the cry, made up to the place where the 
Parrot was floating ; and taking him up, restored him to 
the king. As the bird happened to be a favourite, the 
man insisted that he ought to have a reward more equal 
to his services than his trouble; and as the Parrot had 
proposed twenty pounds, he said that his majesty was 
bound in honour to grant it. The king agreed to leave 
it to the Parrot’s own determination, which the bird hear- 
ing, cried out, “ Give the knave a groat.” 
