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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE BOY AND THE BUTTERLFY, by ELIZABETH TREFUSIS First Line: Proud of its little day, enjoying Last Line: She dies! -- the victim of his art. | |||
Proud of its little day, enjoying The lavish sweets kind nature yields, In harmless sports each hour employing, Ranging the gardens, woods, and fields, A lovely butterfly extending Its grateful wing to Sol's warm beams, No dreaded danger saw impending, But basked secure in peaceful dreams. A wandering urchin view'd this treasure Of gaudy colours fine and gay; Thoughtless, consulting but his pleasure, He chas'd it through the livelong day. At last the young but sly dissembler Appear'd to follow other flies, Then turning, seiz'd the little trembler, Who, crush'd beneath his fingers, dies! Surpris'd, he sees the hasty ruin His reckless cruelty had wrought; The victim (which, so long pursuing, Scarce raised a wish or claimed a thought,) Now bids the tears of genuine sorrow O'er his repentant bosom flow! Yet -- he'll forget it ere the morrow, And deal to others equal woe! -- Thus the vain man, with subtle feigning, Pursues, o'ertakes poor woman's heart; But soon his hapless prize disdaining, She dies! -- the victim of his art. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...EUDORA'S LAMENTATION OVER HER DEAD CHILD by ELIZABETH TREFUSIS THE QUARREL by ELIZABETH TREFUSIS COMPANIONS; A TALE OF A GRANDFATHER by CHARLES STUART CALVERLEY BRIDAL SERENADE by THOMAS LOVELL BEDDOES BIFTEK AUX CHAMPIGNONS by HENRY AUGUSTIN BEERS THE SUMMONS by WILLIAM ROSE BENET DON QUIXOTE by CRAVEN LANGSTROTH BETTS A LEAVE-TAKING: 2 by WILLIAM STANLEY BRAITHWAITE UNDER THE TREES by ANNA HEMPSTEAD BRANCH |
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