9. But such a treè! 'twas shaven deal`; The tree they call a mast`, And had a hollow with a wheel', 10. Within that cavity aloft' Their roofless home they fixed'; Formed with materials neat and soft', Bents', wool, and feathers' mixed. 11. Four ivory eggs soon pave its floor' With russet specks bedight': : The vessel weighs-forsakes the shoré, 12. The mother bird is gone to seá, 13. No!-Soon as from the shore he saw' The winged mansion mové, He flew to reach it, by a law' 14. Then perching at his consort's sidé, The billows and the blasts defied', 15. The seaman', with sincere delight', 16. For seamen much believe in signs`, 17. Hail! honored land! a desert', where' 18. And yè, who rather than resign' Were not afraid to plough the brine', 19. To whose lean country', much disdain We English often show`; Yet from a richer' nothing gain' 20 Be it your fortune', year by year, LESSON XXVI. THE FOX AND THE CROW. 1st, 2d, 4th and 5th lines have an iambus and one anapest in each; the 3d and 6th lines are anapestic. 1. THE fox and the crow', Many good little girls can rehearsè; Pretty nearly as well', If we try the same fable in verse'. Some food for her young ones to seek', With a fine piece of cheese', Which she joyfully held in her beak. And to share in the prize made ȧ vōw' He for cheese felt inclined; So he went and sat under the bough. And with flatt'ry, adapted his plan; Sô, bowing politèly', began`: "The wind', I believe ma'm', is south^; He then looked at the cheese ; But the crow` didn't open her mouth. 6. Sly reynard', not tired', "How charming! how brilliant its huè! Of a bird so diviné ;— Ah! let me just hear` it'—pray` dō. She scarce gave one squall, And the fox ran away with the prize. MORAL. 8. Ye innocent fair', Of coxcombs beware`, To flattery never give ear; LESSON XXVII. THE NOTORIOUS GLUTTON. Anapestic verse. 1. A DUCK', who had got such a habit of stuffing', 2. One day, after eating a plentiful dinner', With full twice as much as there should' have been in her', Was greatly alarmed, by the symptoms of choking. 3. Now there was an old fellow, much famed for discerning, (A drake, who had taken a liking for learning',) And high in repute with his feathery friends', Was called Dr. Drāke;—for this doctor she sends. 4. In a hole of the dunghill' was Dr. Drake's shop', Where he kept a few simples for curing the crop; *It is improper to apply the pronoun who to irrational creatures; instead of it, that, or which, should be used; though it is admissible in a case like this if anywhere. + A provincial, or low word;-not to be used. Some gravel and pebbles, to help the digestion, And certain famed plants of the doctor's selection. 5. So, taking a handful of comical things', And brushing his topple' and pluming his wings', 6. "Dear sir," said the duck', with a delicate quack, To suffer with patience' these pains in my gizzard." 8. "Give me leave,," said the doctor', with medical look', As her flabby cold paw in his fingers he took`;— By the feel of your pulse'―your complaint', I've been thinking', Is caused by your habits of eating and drinking." 9. "O no, sir', believè mé," the lady replied, (Alarmed for her stômach as well as her pride^,) "I am sure, it arises from nothing I eat^, For I rather suspect I got wet in my feet. 10. I've only been ro`king a bit in the gutter', Where the cook had been pouring some cold melted butter', 11. The doctor was just to his business proceeding', LESSON XXVIII. THE JACKDAW. Iambic, with frequent use of trochees, and other short feet. The A great frequenter of the church', 2. Above the steeple shines a plate', From what point blows the weather`. 3. Fond of the speculative height', 4. You think, no doubt', he sits and muses' 5. He sees that this great roundabout'— Its customs, and its būs'nēssēs', And says-what says he'?-Caw. 6. Thrice happy bird! I, too, have seen And, sick of having seen them', |