| | The deep affections of the breast, That Heaven to living things imparts, Are not exclusively possess'd By human hearts. A parrot, from the Spanish Main, Full young, and early-caged, came o'er, With bright wings, to the bleak domain Of Mulla's shore. To spicy groves, where he had won His plumage of resplendent hue— His native fruits, and skies, and sun— He bade adieu. For these he changed the smoke of turf, A heathery land and misty sky; And turn'd on rocks and raging surf His golden eye. But, petted, in our climate cold, He lived and chatter'd many a day; Until, with age, from green and gold His wings grew grey. At last, when blind and seeming dumb, He scolded, laugh'd, and spoke no more, A Spanish stranger chanced to come To Mulla's shore. He hail'd the bird in Spanish speech, The bird in Spanish speech replied: Flapt round his cage with joyous screech— Dropt down and died. CAMPBELL. |
