Classic Poem

And every bird shew'd in his proper kind,
What vertue, nature had to him assign'd.
The prettie Turtle, and the kissing Dove,
Their faiths in wedlock, and chaste nuptiall love:
The hens (to women) sanctitie expresse,
Hallowing their egges: the Swallow cleanlinesse,
Sweeting her nest, and purging it of doung
And every houre is picking of her young.
The Herne, by soaring shewes tempestuous showres,
The princely Cocke distinguishes the houres.
The Kite, his traine him guiding in the ayre,
Prescribes the helme, instructing how to stere.
The Crane to labour, fearing some rough flaw,
With sand and gravell burthening his craw:
Noted by man, which by the same did finde
To ballast ships for steddinesse in winde.
And by the forme and order in his flight,
To march in warre, and how to watch by night.
The first of house that ere did groundsell lay,
Which then was homely of rude lome and clay,
Learn'd of the Martin: Philomel in spring,
Teaching by art her little one to sing;
By whose cleere voice sweet musike first was found,
Before Amphyon ever knew a sound.
Covering with mosse the deads unclosed eye,
The little Red-breast teacheth charitie:
So many there in sundry things excell,
Time scarce could serve their properties to tell.