Ye finches and linnets, ye blackbirds and thrushes,
Who dwell in my garden among the green bushes,
Your company’s sweet, and I’m happy to see
You visit about from the juniper tree
To the gooseberry bush; but a recent intrusion
Has thrown all your harmony into confusion!
I pity you greatly. ’Twas very provoking
That while you sang sweetly to strangers a-walking,
They should rush on your privacy, little regarding
Your slumbering babes, and not caring a farthing
For your poor loving wives, who required kind attention,
A proceeding so rough is—unpleasant to mention!
Ye blackbirds and linnets, and finches and all,
No longer sit piping aloof when I call:
You know, my sweet birds, and it’s known to your spouses,
I go not about, peeping into your houses;
Your green sheltered houses as safe are from me
As if they were locked with a lock and key;
How could I annoy you, when seeing your care
In collecting your mortar, your moss, and your hair!
How you tugged at your timbers, and toiled on the wing
While the winds were against you, your rafters to bring!
I once was a builder, nor have I forgot
How I laboured, like you, in erecting my cot;
I thought, peradventure, like you, as I wrought,
Of a house of my own, and it might cross my thought
That a mate might sit by me and comfort my nest,
And there, in due time, that my chirpers might rest.
I have lived with you all without scolding or strife,
From the cushat and owl, to the wren and his wife;
Round your mansions of moss you may warble all day,
From the apple-tree bough or the juniper spray,
Unmolested by me; I partake of your joy,
Nor went about robbing your nests when a boy.
You’ve often amused a poor head full of care
With a bounce to the clouds or your tumbles in air;
If you sing from the cedar I hear with delight.
And am ready to laugh when you bustle and fight;
I scarce would forbid you the use of my trees
When you go with my cherries and pilfer my peas;
With pleasure I see you display your light pinions,
And flutter and fly round your little dominions.
The whole of my garden is open and free,
Each tree shall be yours, and the boughs of each tree.
When good Sir Richard held these fair domains,
With pensive state along the silent plains,
From distant scenes a beauteous stranger came.
In meek distress appeared the lovely dame:
Her tender griefs seemed kindly felt by all;
No sprightly airs resounded through the hall;
The rural sports beneath the greenwood shade,
Were all suspended while the stranger stay’d.
While polished sense and wit’s attractive light,
Prolonged the pleasure of the social night.
Her condescension spoke her high degree,
But more her sweet and serious dignity.
Such tempered grace the wond’ring menials saw,
Their Lord’s attention touched their minds with awe;
The fairest seat the honour’d stranger prest,
The first apartment lodged th’ exalted guest.
Oft when the sun a mellow radiance threw,
Her pensive steps to silent shades withdrew;
With lambs and flowers she breathed the balmy air,
And thus discoursed: “Ye simple wild flowers fair,
“That here unseen, far from the public eye,
“Unenvied live, and unmolested die;
“Far happier you than the distinguished flower,
“That on the bosom flaunts its transient hour;
“For soon its beauty fades, its fragrance flies—
“Then scorned and trodden in the dust it lies.”
Now to the lambs she turns, that o’er the ground
With youthful speed in frolic circles bound:
Her sad presaging bosom seem’d to say,
“Sport, happy race! your little hour away:
“A common lot perhaps our lives may close,
“But your blind innocence no sorrow knows.”
At eventide her chamber oft she sought
And by the window lingered, lost in thought.
Far to the north she turned her wistful eyes,
That seemed to say “’Tis there my treasure lies.”
At length these peaceful scenes she must forego,
And journey onward through untrodden woe.
Through folding doors her sorrowing host attends;
But ere she down the winding stairs descends,
Low on her knees the pious mourner fell,
Prayed for her host, then took her last farewell:
The generous Richard turned to weep unseen,
While from his door went Mary, Scotland’s Queen!