Should pass many St. Valentines—yet be unmated,

[p17] Sat by, and remark’d that the prudent and sage

Were quite overlook’d in this frivolous age,

When birds, scarce pen-feather’d, were brought to a rout,

Forward Chits! from the egg-shell but newly come out.

In their youthful days, they ne’er witness’d such frisking;

And how wrong in the Greenfinch to flirt with the Siskin![16]

So thought Lady Mackaw, and her friend Cockatoo;

And the Raven foretold that no good could ensue!

They censured the Bantam, for strutting and crowing