When painters would by art express Beauty in unloveliness, Thee, Herodias’ daughter, thee, They fittest subject take to be. They give thy form and features grace; But ever in thy beauteous face They show a steadfast cruel gaze, An eye unpitying; and amaze In all beholders deep they mark, That thou betrayest not one spark Of feeling for the ruthless deed, That did thy praiseful dance succeed. For on the head they make you look As if a sullen joy you took, A cruel triumph, wicked pride, That for your sport a saint had died. [Illustration] [Illustration: THE PEACH] XX Mamma gave us a single peach, She shared it among seven; Now you may think that unto each But a small piece was given. Yet though each share was very small, We own’d, when it was eaten, Being so little for us all Did its fine flavour heighten. The tear was in our parent’s eye, It seem’d quite out of season; When we ask’d wherefore she did cry, She thus explain’d the reason:-- “The cause, my children, I may say, Was joy, and not dejection; The peach, which made you all so gay, Gave rise to this reflection: [Illustration] “It’s many a mother’s lot to share, Seven hungry children viewing, A morsel of the coarsest fare, As I this peach was doing.” [Illustration] [Illustration: THE MAGPIE’S NEST A FABLE] XXI When the Arts in their infancy were, In a fable of old ’tis express’d A wise magpie constructed that rare Little house for young birds, call’d a nest. This was talk’d of the whole country round; You might hear it on every bough sung, “Now no longer upon the rough ground Will fond mothers brood over their young: “For the magpie with exquisite skill Has invented a moss-cover’d cell Within which a whole family will In the utmost security dwell.” [Illustration] To her mate did each female bird say, “Let us fly to the magpie, my dear; If she will but teach us the way, A nest we will build us up here. “It’s a thing that’s close arch’d overhead, With a hole made to creep out and in; We, my bird, might make just a bed If we only knew how to begin.” * * * * * To the magpie soon every bird went And in modest terms made their request, That she would be pleased to consent To teach them to build up a nest. She replied, “I will show you the way, So observe everything that I do: First two sticks ’cross each other I lay--” “To be sure,” said the crow, “why I knew