Ballads - Founded on Anecdotes Relating to Animals by William Hayley
page 27 of 109 (24%)
page 27 of 109 (24%)
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BALLAD THE FIFTH. Who can forget fair freedom's bird, That has her genuine praises heard, Confirm'd by frequent proof? The patriot stork is sure to share The brave Batavian's generous care, While breeding on his roof, In all her early, brightest, days, When Holland won immortal praise Her Spanish tyrant's dread! She play'd not her heroic part With spirit, nobler than the heart, Of one mild bird she bred. It was a female Stork, whose mind Shew'd all the mother, bravely kind, In trial's fiercest hour; This bird had blest her happy lot, High-nested on a fisher's cot, As stedfast as a tower. Her host, a man benignly mild, Was happy in a darling child Who now had woman's air; Her face intelligent and sweet, And her soft bosom was the seat |
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