Can bear the mourner to the poplar shade. Where all abandon'd to despair she sings Her sorrows through the night; and, on the bough Sole-sitting, still at every dying fall Takes up again her lamentable strain Of winding woe, till wide around the woods Sigh to her song, and with her wail resound. But now the feather'd youth their former bounds, Ardent, disdain; and, weighing oft their wings, Demand the free possession of the sky. This one glad office more, and then dissolves Parental love at once, now needless grown: Unlavish Wisdom never works in vain. 'Tis on some evening, sunny, grateful, mild, When naught but balm is breathing through the woods. With yellow lustre bright, that the new tribes Visit the spacious heavens, and look abroad On Nature's common, far as they can see, Or wing their range and pasture. O'er the boughs Dancing about, still at the giddy verge Their resolution fails--their pinions still, In loose liberation stretch'd, to trust the void Trembling refuse--till down before them fly The parent guides, and chide, exhort, command, Or push them off. The surging air receives The plumy burden; and their self-taught wings Winnow the waving element. On ground Alighted, bolder up again they lead, Farther and farther on, the lengthening flight, Till, vanish'd every fear, and every power Rous'd into life and action, light in air The acquitted parents see their soaring race, And, once rejoicing, never know them more. High from the summit of a craggy cliff, Hung o'er the deep, such as amazing frowns On utmost Kilda's shore, whose lonely race Resign the setting sun to Indian worlds, The royal eagle draws his vigorous young; Strong-pounc'd, and ardent with paternal fire. Now fit to raise a kingdom of their own, He drives them from his fort, the towering seat, For ages, of his empire; which, in peace, Unstain'd he holds, while many a league to sea He wings his course, and preys in distant isles. Should I my steps turn to the rural seat, Whose lofty elms and venerable oaks Invite the rook, who high amid the boughs, In early Spring, his airy city builds, And ceaseless caws amusive--there, well pleas'd, I might the various polity survey Of the mix'd household-kind. The careful hen Calls all her chirping family around, Fed and defended by the fearless cock; Whose breast with ardor flames, as on he walks Graceful, and crows defiance. In the pond, The finely checker'd duck before her train Rows garrulous. The stately-sailing swan Gives out his snowy plumage to the gale; And, arching proud his neck, with oary feet Bears forward fierce, and guards his osier-isle, Protective of his young. The turkey nigh, Loud-threatening, reddens; while the peacock spreads His every-color'd glory to the sun,