Page:Fugitive Poetry 1600-1878.djvu/509
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THE MAGPIE.
491
Mag, who with, man was used to herd,
Knew something more than common bird;
He therefore watched with anxious care,
And slipped himself from out the snare.
Then, perched on nail remote from ground,
Observes how deaths are dealt around.
Knew something more than common bird;
He therefore watched with anxious care,
And slipped himself from out the snare.
Then, perched on nail remote from ground,
Observes how deaths are dealt around.
"By Jove, he nicks us!" Maggy cries,
The astonished gardener lifts his eyes,
With faltering voice and panting breath,
Exclaims "Who's there?"—all still as death.
The astonished gardener lifts his eyes,
With faltering voice and panting breath,
Exclaims "Who's there?"—all still as death.
His murderous work he does resume,
And casts his eye around the room
With caution, and at length does spy
The Magpie, perched on nail on high!
The wondering clown, from what he heard,
Believes him something more than bird;
With fear impressed does now retreat
Towards the door with trembling feet;
Then says, "Thy name I do implore?"
The ready bird replies—"Tom More."
And casts his eye around the room
With caution, and at length does spy
The Magpie, perched on nail on high!
The wondering clown, from what he heard,
Believes him something more than bird;
With fear impressed does now retreat
Towards the door with trembling feet;
Then says, "Thy name I do implore?"
The ready bird replies—"Tom More."
"Mercy!" the frighted clown replies,
With hair erect, and staring eyes;
Half-opening then the hovel door,
He asks the bird one question more;
"What brought you here?"—with quick reply,
Sly Mag rejoins, "Bad Company!"
With hair erect, and staring eyes;
Half-opening then the hovel door,
He asks the bird one question more;
"What brought you here?"—with quick reply,
Sly Mag rejoins, "Bad Company!"
Out jumps the gardener in a fright,
And runs away with all his might;
And, as he runs, impressed with dread,
Exclaims "The Devil's in the shed."
And runs away with all his might;
And, as he runs, impressed with dread,
Exclaims "The Devil's in the shed."
The wondrous tale a bencher hears,
And soothes the man, and quells his fears,
Gets Mag secured in wicker cage,
Once more to spend his little rage;
In Temple Hall now hung on high,
Mag oft exclaims "Bad Company!"
And soothes the man, and quells his fears,
Gets Mag secured in wicker cage,
Once more to spend his little rage;
In Temple Hall now hung on high,
Mag oft exclaims "Bad Company!"
