Зображення сторінки
PDF
ePub

THE CHAMELEON.

Oft has it been my lot to mark,
A proud, conceited talking spark,
With eyes that hardly serv'd at most,
To guard their master 'gainst a post;
Yet round the world the blade has been,
To see whatever could be seen.
Returning from his finished tour,
Grown ten times perter (1) than before;
Whatever word you chance to drop,
The travell'd fool your mouth will stop;
"Sir, if my judgment you'll allow-
"I've seen-and sure I ought to know."
So begs you'd pay a due submission,
And acquiesce (2) in his decision.
Two travellers of such a cast,
As o'er Arabia's wilds they past,
And on their way, in friendly chat,
Now talk'd of this, and then of that;
Discours'd awhile, 'mongst other matter,
Of the Chameleon's form and nature,
"A stranger animal, " cries one,
"Sure never liv'd beneath the sun;
"A lizard's body, lean and long,
"A fish's head, a serpent's tongue,
"Its foot with triple (3) claw disjoin'd

"And what a length of tail behind!
"How slow its pace! and then its hue—

"Who ever saw so fine a blue?

(1) Perter-saucy, positive.-(2) Acquiesce-agree, give in. (3) Triple-three.

"Hold there," the other quick replies,
"'Tis green, I saw it with these eyes,
"As late with open mouth it lay,
"And warm'd it in the sunny ray;
"Stretch'd at its ease the beast I view'd,

"And saw it eat the air for food."

"I've seen it, sir, as well as you,

"And must again affirm it blue; "At leisure I the beast survey'd, "Extended in the cooling shade."

""Tis green, 'tis green, sir, I assure ye."—
"Green!" cries the other in a fury;

"Why sir, d'ye think I've lost my eyes ?"-
""Twere no great loss," the friend replies;
"For if they always serve you thus,
"You'll find them but of little use."

So high at last the contest rose,
From words they almost came to blows;
When luckily came by a third,

To him the question they referr'd,

And begg'd he'd tell them, if he knew,
Whether the thing was green or blue.

"Sirs," cries the umpire, (4) " cease your pother, (5) "The creature's neither one nor t'other,

"I caught the animal last night,

"And view'd it o'er by candle light;

t

"I mark'd it well-'twas black as jet

"You stare-but sirs, I've got it yet,

(4) Umpire-one who decides any question proposed to him. (5) Pother-talk, noise or bustle.

H

"And can produce it."

Pray, sir, do:
"I'll lay my life the thing is blue;"-
"And I'll be sworn, that when you've seen.
"The reptile, you'll pronounce him green."

"Well then, at once to ease the doubt,"
Replies the man, "I'll turn him out;
"And when before your eyes I've set him,

"If
you don't find him black, I'll eat him."
He said, and full before their sight,
Produc'd the beast, and lo!-'twas white.
Both star'd, the man look'd wondrous wise,
"My children, the Chamelion cries,
(Then first the creature found a tongue,)
"You all are right, and all are wrong;
"When next you talk of what you view,
"Think others see as well as you;
"Nor wonder, if you find that none
"Prefers your eye-sight to his own.”

MERRICK.

I think it will not be much out of place to give you a short description of the subject of these witty and admirable verses. The Chameleon is, as I daresay you know, a species of Lizard, and is found in Africa, India and Australia. The most wonderful feature in the natural history of this reptile is the power it possesses of changing colour. And very true it is that each of the travellers saw rightly, and saw differently, one said it was green, another blue, and the umpire chosen to decide the matter announced it black, but lo! when the creature is produced it turns out to be white! The reason and cause which create these different colours, has been accounted for in various ways, one is, the varied influence of light on the nervous system. But when you get older, you will be better able to comprehend the many theories that have been proposed and discussed on this interesting point.

The tongue of this animal is a most extraordinary organ, and is the instrument by which it secures its insect prey, darting it out to a great distance and in the twinkling of an eve withdrawing it again.

CHRISTMAS HYMN.

Brightest and best of the sons of the morning,
Dawn on our darkness, and lend us thine aid!
Star of the East, the horizon adorning,
Guide where our infant Redeemer is laid.

Cold on his cradle the dewdrops are shining!
Low lies his bed with the beasts of the stall!
Angels adore him in slumber reclining,
Maker, and Monarch, and Saviour of all!

Say, shall we yield him, in costly devotion,
Odours of Edom and offerings divine;

Gems of the mountain, and pearls of the ocean,

1

Myrrh from the forest, and gold from the mine?

Vainly we offer each ample oblation; 2
Vainly with gold would his favour secure ;
Richer by far is the heart's adoration;
Dearer to God are the prayers of the poor.

Brightest and best of the sons of the morning,
Dawn on our darkness, and lend us thine aid!
Star of the East, the horizon adorning,

Guide where our infant Redeemer is laid!

HEBER.

(1) Myrrh-an aromatic or powerful scented gum, brought from Ethiopia, but the tree which produces it is nnknown.

(2) Oblation-an offering.

Up with me!

up

TO A SKYLARK.

with me into the clouds!

For thy song, Lark, is strong;

Up with me, up with me into the clouds!
Singing, singing,

With clouds and sky about thee ringing,
Lift me, guide me, till I find

That spot which seems so to thy mind!

Alas! my journey, rugged and uneven,
Through prickly moors or dusty ways must wind;
But hearing thee or others of thy kind,
As full of gladness and as free of heaven,
I, with my fate contented, will plod on,

And hope for higher raptures, when life's day is done.
W. WORDSWORTH.

Poets of all ages have sung of the glories of this exquisite warbler, but of all pieces, Shelley's ode to the Sky-lark is the most admired and read. I subscribe a few verses of this fine poem.

Higher still and higher,

From the earth thou springest

Like a cloud of fire;

The blue deep thou wingest,

And singing still dost soar, and soaring ever singest.

In the golden lightning

Of the sunken sun,

O'er which clouds are bright'ning,

Thou dost float and run;

Like an unbodied joy whose race is just begun.

« НазадПродовжити »