1 III.

THE CRICKET.

TRANSLATION OF THE ABOVE.

LITTLE inmate, full of mirth,
Chirping on my kitchen hearth,
Wheresoe'er be thine abode,
Always harbinger of good,
Pay me for thy warm retreat
With a song more soft and sweet ;
In return thou shalt receive
Such a strain as I can give.
Thus thy praise shall be exprest,
Inoffensive, welcome guest!
While the rat is on the scout,
And the mouse with curious snout,
With what vermin else infest
Every dish, and spoil the best;
Frisking thus before the fire,
Thou hast all thine heart's desire.
Though in voice and shape they be
Formed as if akin to thee,
Thou surpassest, happier far,
Happiest grasshoppers that are ;
Theirs is but a summer's song,
Thine endures the winter long,
Unimpaired, and shrill, and clear,
Melody throughout the year.
Neither nor dawn of day,
Puts a period to thy play:
Sing then--and extend thy span
Far beyond the date of man.

VOL. I.

Wretched man, whose years are spent
In repining discontent
Lives not, aged though he be,
Half a span, compared with thee.

SIMILE AGIT IN SIMILE.

BY VINCENT BOURNE.

CHRISTATUS, pictisque ad Thaida Psittacus alis,

Missus ab Eoo munus amante venit. Ancillis mandat primam formare loquelam,

Archididascaliæ dat sibi Thais opus.
Psittace, ait Thais, fingitque sonantia molle

Basia, quæ docilis molle refingit Avis.
Jam captat, jam dimidiat Tyrunculus ; et jam

Integrat auditos articulatque sonos.
Psittace mi pulcher pulchelle, Hera dicit alumno;

Psittace mi pulcher, reddit alumnus Heræ. Jamque canit, ridet, deciesque ægrotat in horâ,

Et vocat ancillas nomine quamque suo. Multaque scurratur mendax, et multa jocatur,

Et lepido populum detinet augurio. Nunc tremulum illudet Fratrem, qui suspicit, et Pol

Carnalis, quisquis te docet, inquit, Homo est; Argutæ nunc stridet anûs argutulus instar;

Respicit, et nebulo es, quisquis es, inquis Anus. Quando fuit melior Tyro, meliorve Magistra!

Quando duo ingeniis tam coiere pares ! Ardua discenti nulla est, res nulla docenti

Ardua; cum doceat Fæmina, discat Avis.

IV.

THE PARROT.

TRANSLATION OF THE ABOVE.

In painted plumes superbly drest,
A native of the gorgeous east,

By many a billow tost;
Poll gains at length the British shore,
Part of the captain's precious store,

A present to his toast.
Belinda's maids are soon preferred
To teach him now and then a word,

As Poll can master it;
But 'tis her own important charge
To qualify him more at large,

And make him quite a wit.
Sweet Poll! his doting mistress cries,
Sweet Poll! the mimic bird replies,

And calls aloud for sack. She next instructs him in the kiss ; 'Tis now a little one, like Miss;

And now a hearty smack. At first he aims at what he bears; And, listening close with both his ears,

Just catches at the sound;
But soon articulates aloud,
Much to the amusement of the crowd,

And stuns the neighbours round.
A querulous old woman's voice
His humorous talent next employs,

He scolds and gives the lie.
Ind now he sings, and now is sick,
Here Sally, Susan, come, come quick,

Poor Poll is like to die!
Belinda and her bird! 'tis rare
To meet with such a well-matched pair,

The language and the tone,
Each character in every part
Sustained with so much grace and art,

And both in unison.
When children first begin to spell,
And stammer out a syllable,

We think them tedious creatures ;
But difficulties soon abate,
When birds are to be taught to prate,

And women are the teachers.

THE DIVERTING HISTORY OF

JOHN GILPIN;

SHOWING HOW HE WENT FURTHER TIL HE IN

TENDED, AND CAME SAFE HOME AGAIX.

John GIlPix was a citizen

Of credit and renown,
A train-band captain eke was he

Of famous London town.

John Gilpin's spouse said to her dear,

Though wedded we have been These twice ten tedious years, yet we

No holiday bave seen.

To-morrow is our wedding-day,

And we will then repair
Unto the Bell at Edmonton

All in a chaise and pair.
My sister, and my sister's child,

Myself and children three,
Will fill the chaise; so you must ride

On horseback after we.
He soon replied, I do admire

Of womankind but one,
And you are she, my dearest dear,

Therefore it shall be done.
I am a linen-draper bold,

As all the world doth know,
And my good friend the calender

Will lend his horse to go.
Quoth Mrs. Gilpin, That's well said ;

And for that wine is dear,
We will be furnished with our own,

Which is both bright and clear.
John Gilpin kissed his loving wife ;

O’erjoy'd was he to find
That though on pleasure she was bent,

She had a frugal mind.
The morning came, the chaise was brought,

But yet was not allowed
To drive up to the door, lest all

Should say that she was proud.
So three doors off the chaise was stayed,

Where they did all get in; Six precious souls, and all agog

To dash through thick and thin.