THE
HAWK
,
THE
MAGPIES
,
AND
THE
PIGEONS
.
A
Fable
,
very
respectfully
addressed
to
the
Hon.
Mrs.
E—tw—k
.
Truth
oft
in
fables
is
convey'd
,
And
morals
too
in
tales
display'd
;
And
what
discretion
won't
express
,
Fiction
may
veil
in
pleasing
dress
;
Thus
I
,
when
prudence
dare
not
plead
,
I
make
a
bird
my
sermon
read
.
Ye
who
the
modest
highly
prize
Attend
a
Pigeon
in
disguise
,
And
learn
each
chatterer
to
despise
;
For
ah
!
too
oft
the
chattering
tongue
,
The
heart
of
innocence
hath
stung
;
And
had
the
hero
of
my
tale
,
Permitted
slander
to
prevail
,
A
helpless
,
disappointed
pair
,
Had
now
been
victims
of
despair
.
Some
years
ago
a
hawk
expired
,
Dreaded
by
foes
,
by
friends
admired
;
To
gain
Britannia's
deathless
fame
,
And
immortalize
his
own
great
name
,
Glory
he
made
his
early
aim
;
He
lived
unequalled
,
died
revered
,
To
every
bird
was
Hawk
endeared
;
He
left
a
son
,
his
dearest
care
,
His
hope
,
his
blessing
,
honour's
heir
:
In
him
each
milder
virtue
shone
,
For
goodness
marked
him
for
her
own
;
His
kindness
friendless
birds
redrest
,
His
sheltering
wings
the
orphan
blest
;
To
say
the
whole
,
his
worth
maintain'd
,
The
glorious
name
his
sire
had
gained
.
This
noble
Hawk
to
most
endear'd
,
Beneath
his
wing
a
pigeon
rear'd
:
From
India's
clime
to
Britain's
shade
,
The
infant
stranger
was
convey'd
,
To
early
learn
that
genuine
worth
,
Which
should
distinguish
birds
of
birth
;
Hawk
"
took
it
up
a
little
flower
,
"
And
placed
it
in
a
kindly
bower
,
Saved
him
from
each
inclement
storm
,
His
tender
years
secured
from
harm
,
His
infant
mind
with
virtue
drest
,
A
bright
example
taught
the
rest
;
Thus
happy
,
honoured
,
much
improved
,
Our
Pigeon
lived
by
Hawk
beloved
;
But
when
the
years
of
reason
came
,
(
Alas
!
what
age
secure
from
blame
?
)
Love
triumphed
,
and
he
took
a
wife
,
More
dear
than
liberty
or
life
;
The
worthy
Hawk
in
wonder
lost
,
Perceived
his
Views
,
his
wishes
crost
;
Yet
still
bestowed
his
guardian
care
,
And
smiled
delighted
on
the
pair
;
The
Pigeons
thoughtless
,
gay
and
young
,
Believed
each
smoothe
,
betraying
tongue
;
They
trusted
hope
,
they
banished
fear
,
Nor
ever
dream't
a
danger
near
,
'Till
indiscretion's
train
advance
,
The
effects
of
vain
extravagance
:
Behold
them
then
,
to
want
exposed
,
Each
error
—
then
disclosed
;
Regretted
follies
,
bitter
thought
,
The
lesson
of
experience
taught
.
Their
soft
complaints
,
their
bursting
sighs
,
The
tears
that
trembled
in
their
eyes
,
The
Hawk
with
pitying
glance
survey'd
,
And
sent
the
mourners
liberal
aid
.
Far
from
his
heart
,
though
near
his
nest
,
There
lived
a
race
to
birds
a
pest
;
The
magpies
named
,
a
chattering
crew
,
On
mischief
bent
,
about
they
flew
;
The
worthy
held
them
in
disdain
,
Hawk
spurn'd
them
from
his
honest
train
;
But
though
they
ne'er
approach'd
his
ear
,
They
still
contrived
that
he
should
hear
,
Each
folly
of
the
humble
pair
,
These
favor'd
pigeons
of
his
care
;
They
tried
in
vain
with
varied
art
,
To
rouse
some
passion
—
turn
his
heart
;
Cries
one
—
"
it
moves
me
even
to
rage
,
"
That
Pigeons
should
a
Hawk
engage
!
"
How
better
deck'd
his
board
had
been
,
"
Had
he
these
pigeons
never
seen
;
"
His
plumage
still
had
been
more
gay
,
"
But
for
the
gold
he
gives
away
;
"
This
,
Hawks
may
think
benevolence
,
"
But
Magpies
deem
it
want
of
sense
.
"
"
Not
too
severe
,
"
a
sage
one
cries
,
"
The
virtues
of
a
Hawk
I
prize
;
"
Wou'd
he
the
voice
of
prudence
hear
,
"
So
good
a
bird
we
must
revere
;
"
Or
wou'd
he
listen
to
our
tale
,
"
Permit
his
reason
to
prevail
,
"
And
let
his
gold
distinguish
worth
,
"
His
favour
grace
a
Magpie's
birth
;
"
With
gratitude
our
breasts
should
glow
,
"
What
praises
should
our
tongues
bestow
!
"
But
ah
!
my
friends
we
speak
in
vain
,
"
He
ever
treats
us
with
disdain
;
"
The
Pigeons
faults
will
ne'er
appear
,
"
He
blots
each
folly
with
a
tear
.
"
"
But
,
"
adds
another
,
"
sting
his
pride
,
"
Say
Hawks
and
Pigeons
are
allied
;
"
To
prove
they
have
not
any
claim
,
"
(
For
they
must
suffer
all
the
blame
)
,
"
He'll
ne'er
again
their
faces
see
,
"
Which
may
make
room
for
thee
or
me
.
"
But
oh
!
they
little
knew
his
mind
Was
generous
,
noble
good
and
kind
;
It
sorrowed
for
the
poor
accused
,
To
hear
their
pleading
ne'er
refused
;
And
with
great
sentiments
inspired
,
He
reasoned
thus
at
eve
retired
:
"
'Tis
true
the
Pigeons
may
be
wrong
,
"
But
I'll
not
trust
a
magpie's
tongue
;
"
All
that
e'er
breathed
to
error's
prone
,
"
In
pitying
theirs
I
veil
my
own
;
"
An
unforgiving
heart
should
be
,
"
Itself
from
imperfection
free
;
"
Then
mercy
for
the
pair
shall
plead
,
"
T'will
shield
myself
in
hours
of
need
;
"
The
days
of
youth
are
full
of
harm
,
"
Each
pleasure
wears
a
tempting
charm
;
"
And
when
it
can
old
birds
allure
,
"
How
can
young
Pigeons
be
secure
?
"
And
if
to
give
deserves
such
praise
,
"
Such
feelings
to
the
heart
conveys
,
"
How
blessed
every
mite
that's
given
,
"
So
honoured
here
,
approved
by
Heaven
!
"
What
pleasure
in
an
added
dish
,
"
Or
robe
I
neither
want
or
wish
;
"
Or
where
the
merit
to
bestow
,
"
That
which
brings
joy
they
ne'er
can
know
;
"
Then
I
resolve
the
pigeon
pair
,
"
Shall
still
my
kind
protection
share
.
"
He
then
retired
to
peaceful
rest
,
With
an
approving
conscience
blest
;
Oh
may
his
reasoning
still
impart
,
A
lesson
to
the
human
heart
!
And
thou
bright
fair
!
whose
worth
,
and
truth
,
So
lately
blest
a
favoured
youth
,
And
thou
oh
!
E—tw—k
so
elate
,
How
kind
thy
stars
,
how
blest
thy
fate
!
That
gave
thee
in
the
spring
of
life
,
The
accomplished
friend
,
the
charming
wife
;
Accept
the
offering
of
a
breast
,
With
warmest
gratitude
imprest
;
And
oh
!
vouchsafe
,
blest
pair
to
hear
,
The
wishes
of
a
soul
sincere
;
Long
may
ye
bloom
,
and
see
each
grace
,
Reflected
in
a
lovely
race
!
And
as
too
often
cares
intrude
,
On
the
kind
bosoms
of
the
good
,
May
sweet
domestic
peace
beguile
,
And
make
the
face
of
sorrow
smile
!
And
when
that
love
no
more
can
warm
,
Esteem
shall
lend
a
milder
charm
;
Enliven'd
friendship
still
engage
,
And
cheer
the
wintry
hours
of
age
;
Long
may
ye
live
in
joy
to
see
,
An
offspring
from
each
error
free
;
And
in
the
lengthen'd
honoured
line
,
A
H——ke's
distinguished
virtues
shine
!