IF Venus in the evening sky Is seen in radiant majesty, If rod-like comets, red as blood, Are 'mongst the constellations view'd, Out springs the Ignoramus, yelling: "The star's exactly o'er my dwelling! What woeful prospect, ah, for me! Then calls his neighbour mournfully: "Behold that awful sign of evil, Portending woe to me, poor devil! My mother's asthma ne'er will leave her, My child is sick with wind and fever; I dread the illness of my wife, A week has pass'd, devoid of strife,-- And other things have reach'd my ear; The Judgment Day has come, I fear!" His neighbour answered: "Friend, you're right! Matters look very had to-night. Let's go a street or two, though, hence, And gaze upon the stars from thence."-- No change appears in either case. Let each remain then in his place, And wisely do the best he can, Patient as any other man. 1821.* ----- THE BUYERS. To an apple-woman's stall Once some children nimbly ran; Longing much to purchase all, They with joyous haste began Snatching up the piles there raised, While with eager eyes they gazed On the rosy fruit so nice; But when they found out the price, Down they threw the whole they'd got, Just as if they were red hot. * * * * * The man who gratis will his goods supply Will never find a lack of folks to buy! 1820. ----- THE MOUNTAIN VILLAGE. "THE mountain village was destroy'd; But see how soon is fill'd the void! Shingles and boards, as by magic arise, The babe in his cradle and swaddling-clothes lies; How blest to trust to God's protection!" Behold a wooden new erection, So that, if sparks and wind but choose, God's self at such a game must lose! 1821.* ----- SYMBOLS. PALM Sunday at the Vatican They celebrate with palms; With reverence bows each holy man, And chaunts the ancient psalms. Those very psalms are also sung With olive boughs in hand, While holly, mountain wilds among, In place of palms must stand: In fine, one seeks some twig that's green, And takes a willow rod, So that the pious man may e'en In small things praise his God. And if ye have observed it well, To gain what's fit ye're able, If ye in faith can but excel; Such are the myths of fable. 1827.* ----- THREE PALINODIAS. I. "Incense is hut a tribute for the gods,-- To mortals 'tis but poison." THE smoke that from thine altar blows, Can it the gods offend? For I observe thou hold'st thy nose-- Pray what does this portend? Mankind deem incense to excel Each other earthly thing, So he that cannot bear its smell, No incense e'er should bring. With unmoved face by thee at least To dolls is homage given; If not obstructed by the priest, The scent mounts up to heaven. 1827.* II CONFLICT OF WIT AND BEAUTY. SIR Wit, who is so much esteem'd, And who is worthy of all honour, Saw Beauty his superior deem'd