Now it is said that on that day
All Birds that are had ceased their play,
And question’d, each with heat and brawl,
Which was the noblest of them all:
Who when they saw the Eagle stand
Amidst them (now unused to stand
Upon the dull, flat, level earth)
Burst into loud contemptuous mirth.
‘It seems,’ exclaimed a civil Crow,
‘You come here, friend, quite apropos.
For we discuss’d the noblest here,
And you are truly the most queer.
Your wings and tail, excuse me friend,
Seem too long for your other end.
Pray change your—if I may suggest—
Your tailor and be better dress’d.
Look at myself how neat I go,
And in the latest fashion too.’
‘Or were your plumes, my friend, more bright
We could excuse your homely plight,’
The Peacock said: ‘pray just admire
My plumes of azure, gold and fire.
My dames about me ever move
In wonder, and confess their love.
Whene’er I show myself,’ said he,
‘The Gods look down from Heaven to see.’
‘Base virtues of the body!’ cried
The Parrot. ‘Is the soul denied?
Know friend that beauteous words are worth
More than these qualities of earth.
How wise I am admire, and know
It is by study I am so.
Still lost in contemplation I
Quite understand the earth and sky;
Can talk of wonders without end,
More e’en than I can comprehend;
Or say the wisest words, I ween,
Although I don’t know what they mean.’
‘Pshaw!’ said the Vulture, ‘fair or wise,
You shall some day become my prize.
Your merits shall be mine, ’od shake ’em,
Whenever I may choose to take ’em;
And when I have digested you
Your virtues shall become mine too.
As for our friend the new arrival,
If he contend to be my rival,
Let’s fight it out in heaven’s name!’
‘What base arbitrement! for shame!’
Exclaimed the mincing Nightingale.
‘If he aspire let him prevail
Against me in the test of song
Where he who triumphs is most strong.’
‘Beware of pride,’ the Dodo said;
‘I see that all of you are led
Astray by arrogance. For me,
I glory in humility.
I am so humble I confess
My utter wicked worthlessness.
I say with tears’—and here he blows
The part that should have been his nose—
‘I say with tears I dote upon
Being beaten, bruised and trampled on.
I love to be reminded still
Of all my faults and treated ill.
So ’tis, I think, confess’d by all
My virtue’s not equivocal.’
‘To me,’ the lofty Stork aver’d,
‘This seems a most plebeian bird.
With nails so long and legs so short,
He cannot be of noble sort;
Tho’ in his nose, I must confess,
I see some sign of gentleness.
I cannot really stoop so far
(Whom all the Frogs and Mice in war
Already have confess’d their king)
As rival this uncrowned thing.
My subjects would at once repine
Nor let me eat ’em, I opine,
As all contented subjects should,
Did I disgrace my royal blood.’
Which heard, the fiery Eagle’s eyes
With noble anger and surprise
Flash’d out. ‘Still dear what is most cheap
Ye little woodland creatures keep,’
He cried; and flung aloft his head,
Gazed up to heaven, his pinions spread
(The wind of which made timorous stir
Among the things that round him were)
And leaping on the air begun
Ascent, and vanish’d in the sun.
[Alastor]
’Tis said that a noble Youth of old
Was to his native village lost
And to his home and aged sire;
For he had wander’d (it is told)
Where, pinnacled in eternal Frost,
Apollo leads his awful Choir.
Awful, for nought of human warms
The agony of Their Song sublime,
Which like the breath of Ice is given,
Ascending in vapour from all forms,
Where Gods in clear alternate chime
Reveal Their mystery-thoughts to Heaven.
Nor in those regions of windless Cold
Is fiery the Sun tho’ fierce in light;
But frozen-pale the numbed Moon
Wanders along the ridges that fold
Enormous Peaks, what time the Night
Rivals with all her stars the Noon.
For there, not dimly as here, the Stars,
But globed and azure and crimson tinct,
Climb up the windless wastes of Snow,
Gold-footed, or thro’ the long-drawn bars
Of mountain Mist with eyes unblink’d
And scorn, gaze down on the world below;
Or high on the topmost Peak and end
Of ranges stand with sudden blaze,
Like Angels born in spontaneous birth;
Or wrap themselves in flame and descend
Between black foreheads of Rock in haze,
Slowly like grieved gods to earth.