Classic and Contemporary Poetry
PAIRING TIME ANTICIPATED; A FABLE, by WILLIAM COWPER Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: I shall not ask jean jacques rousseau Last Line: But proper time to marry. Subject(s): Fables; Rousseau, Jean Jacques (1712-1778); Allegories | ||||||||
I SHALL not ask Jean Jacques Rousseau If birds confabulate or no; 'Tis clear that they were always able To hold discourse, at least in fable; And even the child who knows no better Than to interpret by the letter A story of a cock and bull, Must have a most uncommon skull. It chanced then on a winter's day, But warm and bright and calm as May, The birds, conceiving a design To forestall sweet St. Valentine, In many an orchard, copse, and grove, Assembled on affairs of love, And with much twitter and much chatter Began to agitate the matter. At length a Bullfinch, who could boast More years and wisdom than the most, Entreated, opening wide his beak, A moment's liberty to speak; And, silence publicly enjoined, Delivered briefly thus his mind: "My friends! be cautious how ye treat The subject upon which we meet; I fear we shall have winter yet." A Finch, whose tongue knew no control, With golden wing and satin poll, A last year's bird, who ne'er had tried What marriage means, thus pert replied: "Methinks the gentleman," quoth she, "Opposite in the apple tree, By his good will would keep us single Till yonder heaven and earth shall mingle; Or (which is likelier to befall) Till death exterminate us all. I marry without more ado; My dear Dick Redcap, what say you?" Dick heard, and tweedling, ogling, bridling, Turning short round, strutting, and sidling, Attested, glad, his approbation Of an immediate conjugation. Their sentiments so well expressed Influenced mightily the rest; All paired, and each pair built a nest. But though the birds were thus in haste, The leaves came on not quite so fast, And Destiny, that sometimes bears An aspect stern on man's affairs, Not altogether smiled on theirs. The wind, of late breathed gently forth, Now shifted east, and east by north; Bare trees and shrubs but ill, you know, Could shelter them from rain or snow: Stepping into their nests, they paddled, Themselves were chilled, their eggs were addled: Soon every father-bird and mother Grew quarrelsome, and pecked each other, Parted without the least regret, Except that they had ever met, And learnt in future to be wiser Than to neglect a good adviser. MORAL. Misses! the tale that I relate This lesson seems to carry-- Choose not alone a proper mate, But proper time to marry. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...CYMON AND IPHIGENIA by GIOVANNI BOCCACCIO SIGISMONDA AND GUISCARDO by GIOVANNI BOCCACCIO THE CHARACTER OF A GOOD PARSON by GEOFFREY CHAUCER THE COCK AND THE FOX, OR THE TALE OF THE NUN'S PRIEST by GEOFFREY CHAUCER TIME, REAL AND IMAGINARY; AN ALLEGORY by SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE GLADYS AND HER ISLAND; AN IMPERFECT TALE WITH DOUBTFUL MORAL by JEAN INGELOW THE WOLF AND THE DOG by JEAN DE LA FONTAINE A COMPARISON by WILLIAM COWPER |
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