THE prudent nymph, whose cheeks disclose The lily and the blushing rose, From public view her charms will screen, And rarely in the crowd be seen; This simple truth shall keep her wise, 'The fairest fruits attract the flies.' One night a Glow-worm, proud and vain, Contemplating her glittering train, Cried, 'Sure there never was in nature So elegant, so fine a creature! All other insects that I see, The frugal ant, industrious bee, Or silk-worm, with contempt I view, With all that low mechanic crew Who servilely their lives employ In business, enemy to joy! Mean vulgar herd! ye are my scorn; For grandeur only I was born, Or sure am sprung from race divine, And plac'd on earth to live and shine: Those lights that sparkle so on high, Are but the Glow-worms of the sky; And kings on earth their gems admire Because they imitate my fire.' She spoke: attentive, on a spray, A Nightingale forbore his lay; He saw the shining morsel near, And flew directed by the glare; A while he gaz'd with sober look, And thus the trembling prey bespoke: 'Deluded fool! with pride elate, Know 'tis thy beauty brings thy fate; Less dazzling, long thou might'st have lain Unheeded on the velvet plain. Pride soon or late degraded mourns, And Beauty wrecks whom she adorns.' | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ARMAGEDDON by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON DESPAIR by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON MAGDALEN by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON A MID-DAY DREAMER by JAMES WELDON JOHNSON DOWN BY THE CARIB SEA: 4. THE LOTTERY GIRL by JAMES WELDON JOHNSON DOWN BY THE CARIB SEA: 6. SUNSET IN THE TROPICS by JAMES WELDON JOHNSON GIANT RED WOMAN by CLARENCE MAJOR STUDY FOR A GEOGRAPHICAL TRAIL; 3. WASHINGTON, D.C. by CLARENCE MAJOR |