Classic Poem

In ancient days when ev'ry brute
To human privilege had right;
Could reason, wrangle, or dispute,
As well as scratch, and tear, and bite.

When Phœbus shone his brightest ray,
The rip'ning corn his pow'r confess'd;
His cheering beams made Nature gay,
The eagle in his warmth was blest.

But mal-contents e'en then arose
The birds who love the dolesome night;
The darkest grove with care they chose,
And there caball'd against the light.

The screech-owl, with ill-boding cry,
Portends strange things, old women say:
Stops ev'ry fool that passes by,
And frights the school-boy from his play.

The raven and the double bat,
With families of owls combine;
In close consult they rail and chat,
And curse aloud the glorious shine.

While the great planet, all serene,
Heedless pursues his destin'd way;
He asks not what these murmurs mean,
But runs his course, and gives us day.