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SONGS, ETC. |
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Tho' in the common drove no bound he finds,
But spreads unmeasur'd waste o'er all the kinds.
Nor else the greedy Trout and glutless Eel
Incesssnt woes, and dire destruction deal.
The lurking Water-Rat in caverns preys,
And in the weeds the wily Otter stays;
The ghastly Newt in muddy streams annoys,
And in swift floods the felly Snake destroys ;
Toads for the swarming fry forsake the lawn,
And croaking Frogs devour the tender spawn.
Neither the habitants of land nor air,
(So sure their doom) the fishy numbers spare!
The Swan, fair legent of the silver tide,
Their ranks destroys, and spread their ruin wide ;
The Duck her offspring to the river leads,
And on the destin'd fry insatiate feeds;
On fatal wings the pouncing Bittern soars,
And wafts her prey from the defenceless shores;
The watchful Halcyons to the reeds repair,
And from their haunts the scaly captive bear;
Sharp Herns and Corm'rants too their tribes oppress,
A harrass'd race, peculiar in distress;
Nor can the muse enumerate their foes,
Such is their fate, so various are their woes. |
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