230 
HISTORY OF THE [book. 
The peacock and the ostrich spread 
Their beauteous plumes, a trembling shade. 
From noon-day’s sultry flame : 
Sent by their sire the careful East 
The wanton breezes fann’d her breast. 
And flutter’d round the dame. 
The winged fish, in purple trace. 
The chariot drew ; with easy grace 
Their azure rein she guides : 
And now they fly, and now they swim ; 
Now o’er the wave they lightly skim. 
Or dart beneath the tides. 
Each bird that haunts the rock and bay. 
Each scaly native of the sea. 
Came crowding o’er the main; 
The dolphin shews his thousand dyes. 
The grampus his enormous size. 
And gambol in her train. 
Her skin excell’d the raven plume. 
Her breath the fragrant orange bloom. 
Her eye the tropick beam: 
Soft was her lip as silken down. 
And mild her look as ev’ning sun 
That gilds the Cob re* stream. 
IV. 
* A river so called in Jamaica. 
