* 3 ° 
THE NATURAL HISTORY 
All in a garden, on a curran t-bttfh. 
With wond’rous art they built their waving feat ; 
In the next orchard liv’d a friendly Thrufh. 
Not dillant far a Woodlark’s foft retreat. 
Here blefl; with eafe, and in each other blelh, 
With early fongs they wak’d the Uprightly groves, 
’Till time matur’d their blifs, and crown’d their neil 
With infant pledges of their faithful loves. 
And now what tranfport glow’d in either’s eye ! 
What equal fondnefs dealt the allotted food ! 
What joy each other’s likenefs to defery, 
And future fonnets in the chirping brood I 
But ah! what earthly happinefs can laft ? 
How does the faireft purpofe often fail ? 
A truant fchool-boy’s wantonnefs could blaft 
Their riling hopes, and leave them both to wail. 
The moll; ungentle of his tribe was he; 
No generous precept ever touch’d his heart: 
With concords falfe and hideous profody, 
He fcrawl’d his talk, and blunder’d o’er his part. 
On barb’rous, plunder bent,, with favage eye, 
He mark’d where wrapt in down the younglings lay. 
Then rulhing, feiz’d the wretched family, 
And bore them in his impious hands away. 
But 
