Читать книгу The Tatler (Vol. 1-4) - Joseph Addison - Страница 109

"When nymphs were coy, and love could not prevail,

The gods disguised were seldom known to fail,

Leda was chaste, but yet a feathered Jove

Surprised the fair, and taught her how to love.

There's no celestial but his heaven would quit,

For any form which might to thee admit.

See how the wanton bird, at every glance,

Swells his glad plumes, and feels an amorous trance.

The queen of beauty has forsook the dove,

Henceforth the parrot be the bird of love."

It is indeed a very just proposition, to give that honour rather to the parrot than the other volatile. The parrot represents us in the state of making love: the dove in the possession of the object beloved. But instead of turning the dove off, I fancy it would be better if the chaise of Venus had hereafter a parrot added (as we see sometimes a third horse to a coach) which might intimate, that to be a parrot, is the only way to succeed; and to be a dove, to preserve your conquests. If the swain would go on successfully, he must imitate the bird he writes upon. For he who would be loved by women, must never be silent before the favour, or open his lips after it.