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For, his dimensions once complete,
Thenceforth none ever sees him eat;
Though, till his growing time be past,
Scarce ever is he seen to fast.
That hour arrived, his work begins;

He spins and weaves, and weaves and spins!
Till circle upon circle wound
Careless around him and around,
Conceals him with a veil, though slight,
Impervious to the keenest sight.
'Thus self-enclos'd, as in a cask,
At length he finishes his task :

And, though a worm, when he was lost,
Or caterpillar, at the most,

When next we see him, wings he wears,
And in papilio-pomp appears ;*
Becomes oviparous; supplies
With future worms and future flies,
The next ensuing year!--and dies!
Well were it for the world, if all
Who creep about this earthly ball,
Though shorter liv'd than most he be,
Were useful in their kind as he.

ON A BUTTERFLY EMERGED FROM A CHRYSALIS STATE.

ANON.

THOU coloured winglet, floating in the ray Of June's most gladsome hours, whose gorgeous vest

Was woven in the rainbow: little rest

Thou knowest, in the long bright summer day;

Sipping the fragrant honied dew,-away Thou fly'st from flower to flower, and blest With buoyant thoughts, and spirits full of zest,

Thro' fields of ether lies thine airy way."

Yet wast thou once a reptile in the mire Unsightly having slumbered in thy cell, Transform'd and drunk with thoughts that bliss inspire,

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Thou camest forth :-and I shall break the Dancing still the round of pleasure, shell

Of dull mortality, and clad in fire,

I had died but not like thee.

Burst on immortal wings, in fields of light Deeply stained with sin and folly,

to dwell.

Talent wasted and misused,

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Say, dost thou kindly light the Fairy train, | Disputes have been, and still prevail,
Amidst their gambols on the stilly plain,
Hanging thy lamp upon the moisten'd

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From whence his rays proceed;
Some give that honour to his tail,
And others to his head.

But this is sure-the hand of might,
That kindles up the skies,
Gives him a modicum of light,
Proportioned to his size.

Perhaps indulgent nature meant,
By such a lamp bestowed,
To bid the traveller as he went,

Be careful where he trod ;

Nor crush a worm, whose useful light
Might serve, however small,
To shew a stumbling stone by night,
And save him from a fall.

Whate'er she meant, this truth divine
Is legible and plain,

'Tis power almighty bids him shine,
Nor bids him shine in vain.

Ye proud and wealthy, let this theme
Teach humbler thoughts to you,
Since such a reptile has its gem,
And boasts its splendour too.

THE

GLOW-WORM AND NIGHTINGALE.

COWPER.

A NIGHTINGALE, that all day long
Had cheered the village with his song,
Nor yet at eve his note suspended,
Nor yet when eventide was ended,
Began to feel, as well he might,
The keen demands of appetite;
When, looking eagerly around,
He spied far off upon the ground,
A something shining in the dark,
And knew the glow-worm by his spark;
So stooping down from hawthorn top,
He thought to put him in his crop.
The worm, aware of his intent,
Harangued him thus, right eloquent
"Did you admire my lamp," quoth he,-,,
"As much as I your minstrelsy,

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