ENTERTAINER.

THE WEEKLY ENTERTAINER.

Away I went to take a view,

Through earth, and fea, and air;
How charming all appear'd, while new,
How beautiful and fair!

As fancy lets me, I could fail
Along the boundless deep;
Or climb (for courage did not fail)
The hills or craggy steep.

I fear'd no danger; but, alas!
How chang'd this blissful scene!
Torn from my mother's fond embrace,
By prying, curious men.

Peel'd, burn'd, and fcalded, flash'd, and cut,

No living creature, fure,

Was ever to fuch tortures put,

Or did fuch pains endure.

This cruel treatment I furvive,
Look beautiful and new ;
And various colours now receive,
Red, yellow, green, or blue.

But, always innocent, prefer
A virgin fnowy white;

A face that's even, fmooth, and clear,
Though long and hard, yet bright.

Though I am chafte and pure within,
Quite free from guilt or blame,
Yet I in deeds of darkness join,
Unaw'd by fear or shame.

Yes, more ;-the politician's dreams,

His treach'rous, deep defigns;

E'en Newton's grand and noble schemes;
The lover's plaintive lines;

All, all alike before me pafs,
And beg my kind affent ;
My potent skill they all confefs,
To publish what they meant.
3 R 2

499

My

We would recommend it to Wk-s, to reconfider the very curious and difficult fubject of apparitions on which be bas fent us a differtation, as we are of opinion that his hypothefis kas been haftily formed, and requires not a little alteration before u zili be fit to appear in public.

POETRY.

[From the ERRORS of NATURE, a Novel, just published.]

A Dove, in her

Sat brooding o'er her nurfling care;

While pigeon mate, alias fpoufe,
Was gone abroad to take the air,

A raven watch'd him from the cot

Then fpread his footy wings to foar,
To tell the dove her hapless lot, somado
That fpoufy would return no more. 10

"It is a pious duty all,

"Believe me, (faid the croaking knave ;)
"I should not merit grace nor call, dodr
"If I no comfort to thee gave, eroti

"I pray, good housewife, don't be fad,...
"Although your husband's gone aftray;
"No comfort want ye; ftill be glad;
"Diftrefs I vifit every day."

The dove thus meekly made reply,
"Thy charity is far too great;
"Of ftrangers vifits I am fhy,
"Who for my welcome never wait.

You may have seen my roving dear,
"In wanton mazes flying round;

"But

"But were you ever him so near,

"While he a courting dove was found?

"Then tell me who she was, and where ? Did the furpass in feather me?

"If fo, contented him I'll spare, "A faithlefs rover fince he be."

Surpriz'd to fee a raven there,
fée

Some youngling to its end was brought;
And dame had, with her pious care,
Sent for the priest, was what he thought.

The raven made his rev'rend bow

To all that were come in the room,

Saying, I beg your pardon now,
"For I a neighbour must entomb.”

The husband afk'd, "Which of our brood
"Has chanc'd to die fince out I went?

" To

"To find this reverend man of God
"Which of our carrier's pray was fent?

"He must have flown with light'ning's speed,
"For I to barn have only been;

"Where brother's wife came there in need, "As well as I, fome corn to glean."

As turtles fmile, fo fmil'd the dove,
"Our little care, thank fate, are well;
"I never fent for raven, love,

"As he himself can furely tell.

"He came to tell me what he thought
"At feeing you bill pouter's wife;
"To comfort me was what he fought,
"Such goodness fills his day of life!"

The raven, in the corner coop'd,

Came ftrutting out, in prideful gait; And rais'd his fpirits, which had droop'd, E'er fince to spouse return'd her mate.

"It is my duty, fir, (he cry'd)

"To comfort them that are forlorn ; "Elfe fhould I merit all that chide,

"And from me fhould this gown be torn."

A flight of pigeons homeward came,

For cloud had eas'd itself of rain;

And in the dove-cot's ev'ry room

They ftor'd with care their gather'd grain.

Some came to vifit ma'am in straw,
While others went repast to take;
And some were feen to court withdraw,
And others went their nets to make.

The husband now feiz'd Ralpho's cloak,
Pretending thus to force his ftay;
The other pigeons faw the joke,

And help'd to pluck it all away.

'Twas all in friendship what they meant, 'Twas only to detain him there,

And