O bitter change! for master now we see
A faitour villain carle of low degree;
Foul gluttony employs his livelong day,
Nor heeds, nor hears he my melodious lay.’
So spake the bird; and, as he ceas’d to sing,
Indignantly he clapp’d his downy wing,
And straight was gone; but no abasement stirr’d
In the clown’s breast at his reproachful word:
Bent was his wit alone by quaint device
To snare, and sell him for a passing price.