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The Spider. The Rose.

*149

THE SPIDER.

THEtreach'rous spider when her nets are spread,
Deep ambush'd in her silent den does lie,
And feels, far off, the trembling of her thread,
Whose filmy cord should bind the struggling fly:
Then, if at last she find him fast beset,
She issues forth, and runs along her loom;
She joys to touch the captive in her net,
And drags the little wretch in triumph home.

DRYDEN.

THE ROSE.

CHILD of Summer, lovely rose,
In thee what blushing beauty glows!
But ere to-morrow's setting sun
Thy beauty fades, thy form is gone.
Yet though no grace thy buds retain,
Their pleasing odours still remain.
Ye fair, betimes the moral prize,
"Tis lasting beauty to be wise!

150 The Stream of the Desert.-The Balloon.

THE STREAM OF THE DESERT.

IF from lone cliffs a bursting rill expands
Its transient course, and sinks into the sands,
O'er the moist rock the fell hyæna prowls,
The leopard hisses, and the panther growls;
Onquiv'ring wing the famish'd vulture screams,
Dips his dry beak, and sweeps the gushing

streams;

With foamy jaws beneath and sanguine tongue, Laps the lean wolf, and pants and runs along; Stern stalks the lion on the rustling brinks, Hears the dread snake, and trembles as he drinks: Quick darts the scaly monster o'er the plain, Fold after fold, his undulating train;

And, bending o'er the lake his crested brow, Starts at the crocodile that gapes below.

DARWIN.

THE BALLOON.

So, on the shoreless air the intrepid Gaul Launch'd the vast concave of his buoyant ball;

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Journeying on high the silken castle glides, Bright as a meteor, through the azure tides; O'er towns, and tow'rs, and temples wins its way, Or mounts sublime, and gilds the vault of day. Silent, with upturn'd eyes, unbreathing crowds Pursue the floating wonder to the clouds:

And flush'd with transport, or ben umb'd with fear, Watch, as it rises, the diminish'd sphere. Now less and less!-and now a speck is seen! And now the fleeting rack intrudes between! The calm philosopher in æther sails,

Views broader stars, and breathes in purer gales; Sees, like a map, in many a waving line Round earth's blue plains her lucid waters shine; Sees at his feet the forked lightnings glow, And hears the harmless thunders roar below. DARWIN.

ENGLISH RIVERS.

-FROM his oozy bed

Old father Thames advanc'd his rev'rend head. Around his throne the sea-born brothers stood, Who swell with tributary urns his flood.

152

The Coming of a Shower.

First, the fam'd authors of his ancient name,
The winding Isis, and the fruitful Tame;
The Kennet swift, for silver eels renown'd;
The Loddon slow, with verdant alders crown'd;
Cole, whose dark streams his flow'ry islands lave;
And chalky Wey that rolls a milky wave :
The blue transparent Vandalis appears;
The gulphy Lee his sedgy tresses rears;
And sullen Mole, that hides his diving flood;
And silent Darent, stain'd with Danish blood.

РОРЕ,

THE COMING OF A SHOWER.

Now the light swallow, with her airy brood, Skims the green meadow and the dimpled flood, Loud shrieks the lone thrush from his leafless

thorn;

Th' alarmed beetle sounds his bugle horn; Each pendant spider winds with fingers fine His ravell'd clue, and climbs along the line; Through the still air descend the genial showr's, And pearly rain-drops deck the laughing flow'rs.

DARWIN.

The Sweets of Contentment. 153

THE SWEETS OF CONTENTMENT.

No glory I covet, no riches I want,

Ambition is nothing to me;

The one thing I beg of kind Heaven to grant, Is a mind independent and free.

With passion unruffled, untainted with pride, By reason my life let me square :

The wants of my nature are cheaply supplied; And the rest is but folly and care.

The blessings which Providence freely has lent, I'll justly and gratefully prize;

While sweet meditation and cheerful content Shall make me both healthful and wise.

In the pleasures the great man's possessions

display,

Unenvied I'll challenge my part;

For ev'ry fair object my eyes can survey
Contributes to gladden my heart.

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