Ye proud and wealthy, let this theme
Teach humbler thoughts to you,
Since such a reptile has its gem,
And boasts its splendour too.
NIGRAS inter aves avis est, quæ plurima turres
Antiquas ædes, celsaque Fana colit.
Nil tam sublime est, quod non audace volatu,
Aeriis spernens inferiora, petit.
Quo nemo ascendat, cui non vertigo cerebrum
Corripiat, certe hunc seligit illa locum.
Quo vix a terra tu suspicis absque tremore,
Illa metu expers incolumisque sedet.
Lamina delubri supra fastigia, ventus
Qua cœli spiret de regione, docet ;
Hanc ea præ reliquis mavult, securi pericli,
Nec curat, nedum cogitat, unde cadet.
Res inde humanus, sed summa per otia, spectat,
Et nihil ad sese, quas videt, esse videt.
Concursus spectat, plateaque negotia in omni,
Omnia pro nugis at sapienter habet.
Clamores, quas infra audit, si forsitan audit,
Pro rebus nihili negligit, et crocitat.
Ille tibi invideat, felix Cornicula, pennas,
Qui sic humanis rebusse velit
TRANSLATION OF THE FOREGOING.
THERE is a bird who by his coat,
And by the hoarseness of his note,
Might be suppos'd a crow;
A great frequenter of the church,
Where bishop-like he finds a perch,
And dormitory too.
Above the steeple shines a plate,
That turns and turns to indicate
From what point blows the weather;
Look up your brains begin to swim,
"Tis in the clouds-that pleases him,
He chooses it the rather.
Fond of the speculative height,
Thither he wings his airy flight,
And thence securely sees
The bustle of the raree show,
That occupy mankind below,
Secure and at his case.
You think, no doubt, he sits and muses
On future broken bones and bruises,
If he should chance to fall.
No: not a single thought like that
Employs his philosophick pate.
Or troubles it at all.
He sees, that this great roundabout,
The world, with all its motley rout,
Church, ariny, physick, law,
Its customs, and its businesses,
Is no concern at all of his,
And says-what says he ?-Caw.
Thrice happy bird! I too have seen
Much of the vanities of men;
And, sick of having seen 'em,
Would cheerfully these limbs resign
For such a pair of wings as thine,
And such a head between 'em.
O QUI meæ culina
Argutulus choraules,
Et hospes es canorus,
Quacunque commoreria
Felicitatis omen;
Jucundiore cantu
Siquando me salutes,
Et ipse te rependam,
Et ipse, qua valebo,
Remunerabo musa.
Diceris innocensque
Et gratus inquilinus ;
Nec victitans rapinis,
Ut sorices voraces,
Muresve curiosi,
Furumque delicatum
Vulgus domesticorum ;
Sed tutus in camini
Recessibus, quiete
Contentus et calore.
Beatior Cicada,
Quæ te referre forma,
Quæ voce te videtur ;
Et saltitans per herbas,
Unius, haud secundæ,
Estatis est chorista;
Tu carmen integratum,
Reponis ad Decembrem,
Lætus per universum
Incontinenter annum.
IV.
Te nulla lux relinquit,
Te nulla nox revisit,
Non musice vacantem,
Curisve non solutum :
Quin amplies canendo,.
Quin amplies fruendo,
Etatulam, vel omni,
Quam nos homunciones
Absumimus querendo,
Etate longiorem.
Thus thy praise shall be express'd,
Inoffensive, welcome guest!
While the rat is on the scout,
And the mouse with curious snout,
With what vermin else infest
Ev'ry dish, and spoil the best;
Frisking thus before the fire,
Thou hast all thine heart's desire.
Though in voice and shape they be
Form'd as if akin to thee,
Thou surpassest, happier far,
Happiest grasshoppers that are ;
Theirs is but a summer's song.
Thine endures the winter long,
Unimpair'd, and shrill and clear,
Melody throughout the year
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