Page:Fugitive Poetry 1600-1878.djvu/508
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490
THE MAGPIE.
And now, between each heartfelt sigh,
Tom oft exclaims "Bad Company!"
Poor Mag, who shares his master's fate,
Exclaims, from out his wicker gate,
"Bad Company! Bad Company!"
Then views poor Tom with curious eye,
And cheers his master's wretched hours
By this display of mimic powers;
The imprisoned bird, though much caressed,
Is still by anxious care oppressed;
In silence mourns its cruel fate,
And oft explores his prison gate.
Tom oft exclaims "Bad Company!"
Poor Mag, who shares his master's fate,
Exclaims, from out his wicker gate,
"Bad Company! Bad Company!"
Then views poor Tom with curious eye,
And cheers his master's wretched hours
By this display of mimic powers;
The imprisoned bird, though much caressed,
Is still by anxious care oppressed;
In silence mourns its cruel fate,
And oft explores his prison gate.
Observe through life you'll always find
A fellow-feeling makes us kind;
So Tom resolves immediately
To give poor Mag his liberty;
Then opes his cage, and, with a sigh,
Takes one fond look, and lets him fly.
A fellow-feeling makes us kind;
So Tom resolves immediately
To give poor Mag his liberty;
Then opes his cage, and, with a sigh,
Takes one fond look, and lets him fly.
Now Mag, once more with freedom blest,
Looks round to find a place of rest;
To Temple Gardens wings his way,
There perches on a neighbouring spray.
Looks round to find a place of rest;
To Temple Gardens wings his way,
There perches on a neighbouring spray.
The gardener now with busy cares,
A curious seed for grass prepares;
Yet spite of all his toils and pains,
The hungry birds devour the grains.
A curious seed for grass prepares;
Yet spite of all his toils and pains,
The hungry birds devour the grains.
A curious net he does prepare,
And lightly spreads the wily snare;
The feathered plunderers come in view,
And Mag soon joins the thievish crew.
And lightly spreads the wily snare;
The feathered plunderers come in view,
And Mag soon joins the thievish crew.
The watchful gardener now stands by,
With nimble hand and wary eye;
The birds begin their stolen repast,
The flying net secures them fast.
With nimble hand and wary eye;
The birds begin their stolen repast,
The flying net secures them fast.
The vengeful clown, now filled with ire,
Does to a neighbouring shed retire,
And having first secured the doors
And windows, next the net explores.
Does to a neighbouring shed retire,
And having first secured the doors
And windows, next the net explores.
Now, in revenge for plundered seed,
Each felon he resolves shall bleed;
Then twists their little necks around.
And casts them breathless on the ground.
Each felon he resolves shall bleed;
Then twists their little necks around.
And casts them breathless on the ground.