Classic Poem

Winged wand'rer of the sky!
Inhabitant of heav'n high!
Dreadful with thy dragon tail,
Hydra-head, and coat of mail!
Why dost thou my peace molest?
Why dost thou disturb my rest?
When in May the meads are seen,
Sweet enamel! white and green;
And the gardens, and the bow'rs,
And the forests, and the flow'rs,
Don their robes of curious dye,
Fine confusion to the eye!
Did I — — chase thee in thy flight?
Did I — — put thee in a fright?
Did I — — spoil thy treasure hid?
Never — never — never — did.
Envious nothing! pray beware;
Tempt mine anger, if you dare.
Trust not in thy strength of wing;
Trust not in thy length of sting.
Heav'n nor earth shall thee defend;
I thy buzzing soon will eud.
Take my counsel, while you may;
Devil take you, if you stay.
Wilt — thou — dare — my — face — to — wound? —
Thus, I fell thee to the ground.
Down amongst the dead men, now
Thou shalt forget thou ere wast thou.
Anacreontic Bards beneath,
Thus shall wail thee after death.

CHORUS OF ELYSIAN BARDS .

" A Wasp, for a wonder,
To paradise under
Descends; See! he wanders
By Styx's meanders!
Behold how he glows,
Amidst Rhodope's snows
He sweats, in a trice,
In the regions of ice!
Lo! he cools, by God's ire,
Amidst brimstone and fire!
He goes to our king,
And he shows him his sting.
(God Pluto loves satire,
As women love attire;)
Our king sets him free,
Like fam'd Euridice.
Thus a wasp could prevail
O'er the Devil and hell,
A conquest both hard and laborious!
Tho' hell had fast bound him,
And the Devil did confound him,
Yet his sting and his wing were victorious. "