Who had waited for the treat;
And now they both began to eat.
Fond mother! shriek not, O beware
The least small noise, O have a care—
The least small noise that may be made
The wily snake will be afraid—
If he hear the slightest sound,
He will inflict th’ envenom’d wound.
—She speaks not, moves not, scarce does breathe,
As she stands the trees beneath.