V. RECIPROCAL KINDNESS, THE PRIMARY LAW OF NATURE. ANDROCLES, from his injured lord, in dread Of instant death, to Libya's desert fled: Tired with his toilsome flight, and parch'd with heat, He spied at length a cavern's cool retreat; But scarce had given to rest his weary frame, When, hugest of his kind, a lion came: And firm and free from pain the lion stood. He flies, but viewing, in his purposed prey, Mute with astonishment, the assembly gaze : All this is natural: Nature bade him rend VI. THE THRACIAN. THRACIAN parents at his birth, Mourn their babe with many a tear, But, with undissembled mirth, Place him breathless on his bier. Greece and Rome, with equal scorn, But the cause of this concern, And this pleasure, would they trace, Even they might somewhat learn From the savages of Thrace. VII. A MANUAL, MORE ANCIENT THAN THE ART OF PRINTING, AND NOT TO BE FOUND IN ANY CATALOGUE. THERE is a book, which we may call Alone a library, though small; The ladies thumb it much. Words none, things numerous it contains: Ofttimes its leaves of scarlet hue A golden edging boast; Nor name, nor title, stamp'd behind, But all within 'tis richly lined, The whitest hands, that secret hoard Preserve it, in their bosoms stored, As with a miser's care. Thence implements of every size, (They need but to consult their eyes) The largest and the longest kind A sort most needed by the blind, The full-charged leaf, which next ensues, The smaller sort, which matrons use, The third, the fourth, the fifth supply But still, with regular decrease, O! what a fund of genius, pent How luminous and clear! It leaves no reader at a loss Or posed, whoever reads: No commentator's tedious gloss, Search Bodley's many thousands o'er; No book is treasured there, Nor yet in Granta's numerous store, That may with this compare. No!—rival none in either host Of this was ever seen, Or, that contents could justly boast, VIII. AN ENIGMA. A NEEDLE, small as small can be, Nor is my purchase dear; Yet though but little use we boast, Nor few artificers it asks, All skilful in their several tasks, One fuses metal o'er the fire, The shears another plies |